Baltimore Police Department Policy Manual

The Baltimore Police Department (BPD) publishes its full Policies and Procedures library online as part of transparency reforms and consent-decree-driven requirements. The manual contains detailed directives governing patrol, use of force, stops, searches, transports, internal investigations, juveniles, crisis intervention, and supervision. Because BPD operates under a federal consent decree, the policies emphasize constitutional policing, documentation, supervisor accountability, and community engagement.

For BPD promotion prep, begin by printing or indexing the major directive categories: Use of Force, Stops/Searches/Arrests, Professional Standards, Patrol, Investigations, Transportation of Persons in Custody, Juvenile Interactions, Crisis Intervention, and Reporting/Documentation. Build your study plan around directives that have high liability or consent-decree relevance. For each directive, make two lists: (1) officer responsibilities and (2) supervisor responsibilities. Promotion exam questions frequently test the difference. Also prepare scenario-based notes reflecting Baltimore-specific challenges: rowhome neighborhoods, large events, crisis calls, urban traffic conditions, and multi-agency responses.

Key BPD directive areas to emphasize include:

- Use of Force and De-escalation – strict reporting, review, and consent decree-driven requirements.
- Stops, Searches, and Arrests – constitutional mandates, articulable reasonable suspicion standards, and documentation.
- Transportation of Persons in Custody – safety policies developed after high-profile incidents.
- Professional Standards and Internal Investigations – complaint intake, classification, procedural justice, and officer rights.
- Crisis Intervention and Mental Health Calls – supervisor expectations on scene.
- Community Policing and Problem-Solving – engagement requirements and documentation.

These directives are detailed and often revised, making structured notes essential.

For BPD promotional exams:

1. Expect **consent-decree-driven questions** focusing on de-escalation, stops/searches, and documentation.
2. Highlight mandatory supervisory actions such as immediate notifications, scene response expectations, and documentation review.
3. Create flowcharts for incidents such as use of force, detainee transport issues, or critical incidents.
4. Review any **recently updated directives**, as these are heavily emphasized in exams and oral boards.
5. Practice Baltimore-specific scenarios (dense neighborhoods, large events, multi-agency operations) to apply directives in context.