Baltimore Police Department Makes Progress on Federal Consent Decree

Department reaches compliance on two key sections of the decree

Jan. 30, 2026 at 11:39am

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The Baltimore Police Department has reached compliance with two sections of the federal consent decree, marking an important milestone in the department's ongoing reform efforts. Police Commissioner Richard Worley praised the work of the technology and recruitment teams, stating that the department remains committed to these reforms as it transforms into a 'world-class police department'.

Why it matters

The consent decree was put in place in 2017 after the in-custody death of Freddie Gray, and the department's progress on the decree is seen as a crucial step in rebuilding trust between the police and the community. The city's mayor, Brandon Scott, has also emphasized the importance of modernizing the department and strengthening recruitment and retention efforts.

The details

A federal judge has determined that the department's body-worn camera program meets the consent decree's standards, and the department has also improved its hiring process and recruitment efforts. The department is currently at 82% compliance with the consent decree, either in a stage of compliance or on track.

  • The consent decree was put in place in 2017 after the in-custody death of Freddie Gray.
  • On January 30, 2026, a federal judge ruled that the department's body-worn camera program meets the consent decree's standards.

The players

Richard Worley

The Police Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department, who praised the department's progress on the consent decree and its commitment to reform.

Brandon Scott

The Mayor of Baltimore, who congratulated the Baltimore Police Department on its progress and emphasized the importance of modernizing the department and strengthening recruitment and retention efforts.

Baltimore Police Department

The law enforcement agency in Baltimore, Maryland, that is working to comply with a federal consent decree put in place after the in-custody death of Freddie Gray.

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What they’re saying

“We continue to make meaningful progress toward fulfilling the Consent Decree, and this marks another important step toward full compliance. I want to thank our technology and recruitment teams and everyone who has worked tirelessly to get us here. We remain committed to these reforms as we transform into a world-class police department, serving our city with honor and distinction.”

— Richard Worley, Police Commissioner

“I want to congratulate BPD on two important milestones in their ongoing work to fulfill the Consent Decree. Modernizing the Department and strengthening recruitment and retention have been priorities since well before I took office. Eight years ago, BPD was still largely a paper-based entity; today, it is a national model for 21st century policing. Likewise, as we've continued to strengthen relationships between BPD and our residents, we've seen more folks joining the Department to support our comprehensive approach to reducing violence in our city.”

— Brandon Scott, Mayor

What’s next

The Baltimore Police Department will continue to work towards full compliance with the federal consent decree, with the goal of transforming the department into a 'world-class police department' that serves the city with 'honor and distinction'.

The takeaway

The Baltimore Police Department's progress on the federal consent decree is a significant milestone in the city's efforts to rebuild trust between the police and the community, and to modernize the department's practices and procedures. The department's commitment to reform and its focus on strengthening recruitment and retention are crucial steps in this process.