House Bill 9, calls on the police commissioner to review Baltimore police districts after each Census, and accordingly, make changes. This legislation, could change the whole makeup of Baltimore’s nine police districts.

In an effort to stop the rise in homicides, Baltimore City, is scrambling to find the ways to add more police to the streets. A state lawmaker , Delegate Cory McCray has proposed legislation to force the Police Department, to make the better use of its resources.

McCray said,"It takes that Census information and it looks at how population shifts in Baltimore City, and looks at service calls, response times, and then has the police commissioner, our top cop, put forth a plan and it goes before the City Council."

McCray said that, the bill calls for transparency, because any changes would go before the mayor, and City Council, and would include community input.

The districts have not changed in more than 20 years, and it is worth looking at, the Baltimore Police Department said.

Baltimore police media relations Chief, T.J. Smith said, “It's something that we've already publicly supported and will continue to do so. Again, it just gives us the opportunity to re-evaluate, reassess if necessary, the boundaries that exist for police districts.”

McCray said, "We want to make sure that with the amount of resources that we have, we are always using them effectively and efficiently."

Mayor Catherine Pugh said, she is still studying the legislation and is "talking with Police Commissioner Kevin Davis about the practical benefits of periodically re-evaluating district lines. We want to ensure we utilize all information available to us in fighting crime, reducing violence and equipping police officers with data that helps them do their jobs better."

Nothing would change for at least three years, even if the bill passes.

By Mrudula.