BALTIMORE (AP) The Baltimore city council voted Monday to approve $8.5 million in funding to help victims of crime with home intercom systems.
The vote by Baltimore City Council members was the latest in a series of moves to provide help for victims of crimes, including installing more intercoms and offering them training.
Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Police Commissioner Kevin Davis announced Monday that Baltimore will provide the funds to help cover the cost of upgrading the city’s intercom network.
City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young Jr. said the new money will help Baltimore pay for “all the upgrades” that are necessary.
He said the city is also providing training to all city employees and other stakeholders to help them better protect their property from crime.
Baltimore has long had an intercom problem.
The city began installing intercom speakers in 2000 after a police officer was shot and killed in the city.
A number of cities have since installed such systems.
The Baltimore system is among the largest in the country.
In April, Baltimore Council President Stephanie Rawls-Blake announced a $10 million plan to add more intercompany speakers and provide training to other city employees.