First Amendment-Protected Activities Feedback Survey: Final Comment Period

The Baltimore Police Department (BPD) is in the process of drafting revised policy intended to protect several First Amendment rights: the right of freedom of speech and expression, the right to freely organize and participate in public assemblies and protests, and the right of freedom to observe and record police officers when discharging their public duties. After taking into consideration comments from the Monitoring Team and the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as initial comments from members of the community, BPD has issued proposed new policies on First Amendment-Protected Activity (Policy 804) and Public Observation/Recording of Officers (Policy 1016). The First-Year Monitoring Plan calls for public comments on these proposed policies. In combination with the Department of Justice and the Monitoring Team, BPD will consider these public comments before the policies are finalized. The comment period is open through July 25, 2018.