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Making Baltimore County Communities Safer For Our Residents
Julian Jones has spent his career working to make sure families feel safe in their communities. His unique experience and trajectory have taught him that the relationship between the community and its safety organizations is essential to building real, long-term public safety.
A 32-year veteran of the fire department, Julian became a firefighter in college and fell in love with the mission of helping people on the worst day of their lives. Since joining the County Council, Julian has been at the front lines of public safety reform, and his leadership on the issue has proven that improved effectiveness and greater accountability go hand in hand.
Julian understands that when residents, business owners and workers feel safe, our communities thrive and opportunity follows. There is no greater responsibility for a County Executive than to ensure the safety of the residents of this County, and Julian is uniquely prepared to deliver on that promise.
Julian's Public Safety Plan
Faster, Smarter Public Safety
Law enforcement and other first responders are often asked to fill the gaps that persist in every other part of our system. As our County navigates the interlocking challenges of mental health, drugs, homelessness, and a porous social safety net, Julian believes it is critical that we limit the number of instances that the enforcement that should serve as the last resort functions as our first response. When police are necessary, faster response times make the difference between life and death.
As County Executive, Julian will:
- Expand mobile crisis response as a first-line option for mental health and welfare calls. Julian will establish a 24/7 crisis center, double the number of mobile crisis units, and restructure call triage so individuals experiencing mental health crises, substance issues, or welfare concerns receive right-sized care from trained health professionals — while allowing police to focus on serious public safety threats. He will also build a continuity system for individuals with repeated crisis contacts.
- Accelerate and incentivize a countywide camera registry to strengthen investigations and deter crime. Julian introduced the legislation establishing the registry in Baltimore County and will make participation easy and incentivized to expand coverage across neighborhoods and commercial areas.
- Provide take-home vehicles to improve police visibility and response times. Take-home vehicles increase police presence in communities even when officers are off duty, acting as a visible deterrent and cutting response times by allowing officers to respond directly from their location.
- Deploy data-driven enforcement strategies to target crime where it is most concentrated. Most crime is driven by identifiable data on high-risk places, high-risk people, and high-risk times. Targeted enforcement ensures we are being both smart and fair.
Ensure Police Are Accountable to the Community
After the deaths of Freddie Gray and Korryn Gaines, Julian led the Council in reforming the police department. His SMART Policing Act banned chokeholds, created an early-warning system to identify officers using excessive force, and prohibited the hiring of officers who left other departments under dubious circumstances. Julian understands that the communities most vulnerable to police overreach are the very same communities bearing the brunt of crime in the County, and that the trust of the community is an indispensable asset in keeping our communities safe.
As County Executive, Julian will:
- Strengthen the Police Accountability Board with real independence, authority, and capacity. Julian will give the Board independent legal counsel, dedicated staff, and direct access to police investigations so it can fully review what happened in individual cases.
- Track what individual officers do, and act accordingly. Julian will require that the PAB has the power to drill down to officer-level data, granting clear visibility into when an officer conducts traffic stops, uses force, or receives complaints — not just aggregated summaries.
- Require closed-loop tracking of every complaint from intake to final outcome. Julian will ensure the Police Accountability Board can follow each case through to resolution and guarantee the public clear reporting on whether the system is preventing problems or allowing them to continue.
- Expand early-warning systems with mandatory triggers and real consequences. Julian will set clear thresholds so that when an officer is repeatedly involved in use-of-force incidents or receives multiple complaints, the department must respond — preventing problems rather than simply recording them after the fact.
Making Public Spaces Feel Safe Again
A key part of ensuring our communities remain a great place to live, work, and do business is making sure our public spaces are safe and orderly. Small businesses navigating uncertain economic conditions should not have to contend with disorder in commercial areas, and vulnerable residents like our seniors deserve to feel safe in the public spaces in their neighborhoods. While most people gathering in these areas inflict no harm, a small number drive a disproportionate share of the disorder — and the County can address those concerns without resorting to punitive measures.
As County Executive, Julian will:
- Ensure consistent officer presence in high-traffic areas and at key times. Visible, consistent presence in shopping centers and commercial corridors deters crime and reassures residents and businesses. Julian will work with the business community and police force to deploy strategically and engage with the community.
- Focus enforcement on repeat offenders driving a disproportionate share of crime. Working with the District Court Administrative Judge, State's Attorney, and Public Defender, Julian will establish a targeted citation docket to focus enforcement and court resources on repeat offenders of quality-of-life crimes and divert them toward services that address underlying causes.
- Improve response times and enforcement for quality-of-life crimes. Issues like illegal dumping, graffiti, retail theft, car break-ins, and property crime erode residents' sense of safety. Julian's administration will prioritize addressing these concerns quickly to signal that disorder will not be tolerated.
- Use environmental design strategies to prevent crime before it happens. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) — using lighting, visibility, and thoughtful layout to deter crime — can meaningfully reduce crime by addressing the conditions that allow it. Julian will use data to guide improvements that prevent crime from taking hold.
Giving Young People Real Options
Growing up in East Baltimore, Julian learned firsthand that an idle mind can be the devil's workshop. Engaging young people early with opportunities to earn and learn is key to making sure their potential is realized rather than extinguished in the streets. Most young people deserve spaces and opportunities to enjoy themselves without suspicion or contention, and the County can play a critical role in providing the spaces and programming that make that possible.
As County Executive, Julian will:
- Guarantee a job to every young person who wants one. Julian believes opportunity is one of the most effective public safety strategies we have. He will expand the County's youth jobs program to ensure every young person who wants to work has access to meaningful employment and mentorship.
- Expand apprenticeships and trade opportunities. Not every path runs through a four-year degree, and we must meet young people where they are. Julian will expand apprenticeships and trade programs to connect youth directly to good-paying, in-demand careers.
- Invest in recreation centers and safe spaces year-round. Julian will build two year-round aquatic centers in the County and invest in expanding recreation centers, skate parks, and public pools — building on successful public-private partnerships like the Ravens Playground he brought to Owings Mills.
- Grow summer and after-school programming. Julian will expand summer and after-school programming so young people have access to structured activities during the hours when risk is highest, keeping them connected to positive networks.
A Proven Track Record
With 32 years of service in the fire department, rising from firefighter to Division Chief, Julian understands public safety from the ground up. He led Maryland Fire and EMS forces on a rescue mission to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, demonstrating his leadership in crisis situations.
As Council Chairman, Julian has championed smart, effective public safety policies that protect our communities while building trust between residents and first responders. His balanced approach ensures that our safety professionals have the tools they need while maintaining the accountability our communities deserve.