BALTIMORE (WBFF) - The Board of Estimates approved Wednesday a $500,000 state grant for the Baltimore Police Department.
The grant will go towards the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network, which consists of federal, state and local partners.
Just this week, the leaders announced the indictment of seven accused drug dealers through the networks’ investigative work.
And last year, city leaders announced the undercover take down of a major drug organization in the city, where agents seized enough fentanyl with the power to kill nearly 200- thousand people.
It was then BPD told FOX45 the network has led to more than 200 arrests, the seizure of nearly 50 handguns and the dismantling of several drug organizations.
"Our local drug trade fuels violence and murder in the city,” said Marilyn Mosby, back in 2019.
Fast forward to now and violence and murder are still happening today and at a time when the police department’s budget is being slashed by $22 million.
The latest statistics show 250 people have lost their life to homicide this year and 542 people have been shot in the city.
Leaders hope the $500K grant for the intelligence network will help its continued fight against crime.
A spokesperson with the Baltimore Police Department told FOX45 the grant assist our department with the following,
- Identifying and prioritizing criminal offenders, gangs and violent criminal networks
- Disrupting activities of targeted criminal offenders, gangs and violent criminal networks
- Dismantling of criminal organizations, gangs, and violent criminal networks
- Collaborating with partners on information sharing and enforcement activities with special attention to drugs, overdoses, juvenile crime, as well as, human and firearms trafficking organizations and networks