Read Joining Forces: A Look at the UMB Police Department’s Proud History, by security officer William Groh, who has served the department for more than 60 years
1948
The University of Maryland at Baltimore (UMAB) Department of Public Safety begins when security officers are hired to keep campus safe. The new department included a supervisor and three unarmed security officers who were previously maintenance workers for the University. Lawrence Payne, whose title was night supervisor of security, led the department.
1952
The Division of Safety and Security is established. The Division is comprised of Maryland State Special Police - sworn police officers commissioned by the governor. Security officers patrolled parking lots on campus while special police patrolled UMAB buildings and grounds. The special police did not have arrest authority. William H. Williams led the division as captain/chief of police.
1965
The first African American man is appointed to the UMAB Division of Safety and Security.
At the time, the department had one captain, one lieutenant, two sergeants, and 12 patrol officers.
July 1, 1975
Seventy-two police officers are sworn in to the new University of Maryland Police Department, established by State Senate Bill #251. Officers are given full police powers on all property owned, leased, or under control of any University System of Maryland institution.
1976-1982
Chief John J. Cunningham serves as the department's first chief of police.
At the time, the department had 72 employees.
1977
The department gets their first K9, an 18-month-old German Shepherd named Smoke. The dog was donated to the department to help deter crime.
1978
The first woman - Barbara Scott - joins the University of Maryland at Baltimore (UMAB) Police Department.
1982
A 12-passenger, blue-and-white Dodge "escort" van begins circling campus between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. A police officer drives the van, which offers safe rides to UMAB students and staff.
1983
The board of regents acquire Pine Street Station in exchange for the H.L. Mencken House. In the years that follow, the building undergoes significant renovations. Police move into the building in 1991.
Read more (coming soon).
1983-2000
John Collins joins the department as Director of Public Safety, coming from the Port Authority Police of New York and New Jersey.
At the time, the department had 66 employees.
1984
University of Maryland Police sign a concurrent jurisdiction agreement with the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), expanding its jurisdiction to include the public streets and sidewalks.
1986
Police communications operators (PCOs) join the department to staff the police communications center, which was previously staffed by security officers. PCOs handle emergency, escort, and information calls; dispatch police officers; monitor the card access system; access the state crime check system; and more.
1993
As the campus grew, University of Maryland Police signed an expanded concurrent jurisdiction agreement with BPD that is still in place today. This agreement gives our police the same authority as BPD within the University’s boundaries.
1993
The UMAB Police Force establishes a Safety Awareness Committee, consisting of students, faculty, and staff. The group meets to discuss public safety concerns, receive awareness tips, crime statistics, and more. This group is still active today.
1997
UMAB Police becomes Baltimore City's sole accredited police department through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The department had to meet 641 standards in a rigorous, four-year process.
2000-2002
Chief James P. Nestor is promoted after serving as assistant director of public safety operations since 1986.
At the time, the department has 120 employees, including 55 sworn police officers and 50 security officers.
2001
UMAB Police add mountain bikes to their patrol, allowing the department to respond quickly to calls in hard-to-reach locations.
2003-2007
Colonel Edward Ballard is promoted to director of public safety and chief of police, becoming the department's first African American police chief.
September 2005
The department expands its patrols into the University of Maryland BioPark, opening a substation at 1 North Poppleton Street.
2007
UMB establishes UMB Alerts, which sends emergency information to the UMB community via e-mail and text message.
2007-2010
After joining the department in 1971 and rising through the ranks, Cleveland Barnes is named director of public safety and chief of police. He was previously named colonel and assistant director of public safety in 2003, then served as acting police chief for 14 months before being sworn in as chief.
2010-2017
Chief Antonio Williams joins the department after serving as chief of police for the Baltimore City Schools' Police Department and Chief of Police at UMBC.
2010
UMB Police expand into Pine Street Annex, located at 222 North Pine Street. The building serves as the department's operations building.
2017-2018
Martinez Davenport serves as interim chief of police.
2018-2020
Alice Cary becomes the department's first female police chief, focusing on increasing the department's community outreach into West Baltimore. She hired the department's first Public Information Officer, a position shared with the UMB Office of Emergency Management, to increase outreach and transparency.
2018
The Community Outreach and Support Team (COAST) is established to build positive relationships between the UMB Police Department and its West Baltimore neighbors. Efforts include Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), Police Athletic/Activities League (PAL), homeless outreach, and a community engagement academy.
2019
Lexi becomes the third university police department comfort K9 in the country. The innovative new program provides support to people in times of crisis, to communities impacted by violence, and to victims of tragedy.
2019-2022
COAST is honored for its innovative community policing model.
-2019 Governor's Award for Outstanding Proactive Crime Prevention Programs
-2020 Maryland Chiefs of Police Association Exceptional Police Performance by a Unit Award
-2021 International Association of Chiefs of Police Leadership in Community Policing Award
-2022 Governor's Award for Outstanding Proactive Crime Prevention Programs
2020-Present
Chief Thomas Leone is promoted to lead the department. Under his leadership, UMB Police have established a co-responder model with the University of Maryland School of Social Work, enhanced coordination with Baltimore City 911 Center through an Aware Portal, and used data-driven tactics to make UMB one of the safest places in Downtown Baltimore. He was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Public Safety and Chief of Police in 2022.
2021
Social work interns from the University of Maryland School of Social Work join UMB Police to provide case management to vulnerable populations. The program is one of the first of its kind in the country.
March 2022
UMB Police take responsibility for policing services on The University of Baltimore (UBalt) campus. The two campuses are only one mile apart, enabling effective coordination, visibility, and community-oriented policing services.
2022
The UMB Office of the Fire Marshal joins UMB Police and Public Safety.
