Legislative Committee to Review Baltimore’s Computer-Aided Dispatch System Today
Legislative Committee to Review Baltimore’s Computer-Aided Dispatch System Today
The Baltimore City Council’s Committee on Legislative Investigations is scheduled to convene today, Thursday, February 19, 2026, to conduct a high-priority informational hearing regarding the status of the city’s Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. The session is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Du Burns Council Chamber on the fourth floor of City Hall. This hearing marks a critical step in the city’s efforts to modernize its emergency response infrastructure and ensure the reliability of 911 services.
The hearing, formalised under Council Resolution 25-0044R, was called to address growing concerns regarding technical protocols and the resilience of the current dispatch network. Over the past several months, city officials have monitored the system's performance closely following reports of intermittent outages. Today’s session aims to provide transparency regarding how these outages are communicated to first responders and the public, as well as the specific steps taken to restore service during such events.
To provide a comprehensive overview of the situation, the committee has invited leadership and technical experts from three primary city agencies:
- Baltimore City Information and Technology (BCIT)
- The Baltimore City Fire Department
- The Baltimore Police Department
A major portion of the afternoon’s agenda will focus on the financial and logistical requirements for a full system replacement. Council members are expected to question agency heads on the projected timeline for procurement and implementation, as well as the total budget necessary to transition to a more advanced CAD platform. The current administration has signaled that upgrading public safety technology is a cornerstone of the 2026 fiscal and legislative strategy.
In addition to discussing the replacement plan, the committee will review the maintenance protocols currently in place to support existing hardware. The goal is to identify potential vulnerabilities before they result in further service disruptions. This focus on infrastructure reliability aligns with the city’s broader 2026 legislative priorities, which include enhancing public safety oversight and increasing the efficiency of municipal services.
While the focus of today’s session is specifically on emergency technology, the meeting occurs amidst a busy legislative season. Earlier this year, the city government emphasized its commitment to securing additional state funding for urban renewal and public safety initiatives. Today's technical hearing is viewed as a necessary component of that larger effort to ensure that Baltimore’s first responders are equipped with the most dependable tools available. Residents may attend the hearing in person or follow the proceedings via the city's digital broadcast services.