Safe Streets Penn North Celebrates Over a Year Without Homicides

BALTIMORE, MD - Mayor Brandon M. Scott, along with the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE) and Catholic Charities of Baltimore, announced that the Penn North site of Safe Streets Baltimore has achieved an impressive milestone of 368 days without a homicide.

The last recorded homicide in the area occurred on May 23, 2025, in the 1800 block of N Woodyear Street. Since that date, the community has maintained a homicide-free status, highlighting the effectiveness of local violence intervention efforts.

To reach this achievement, the Penn North site has successfully mediated over 108 conflicts and organized 45 community events aimed at promoting resources and anti-violence initiatives. In the previous year, Safe Streets violence interrupters mediated a total of 1,752 potentially violent situations across all ten Safe Streets locations in Baltimore.

Mayor Scott praised the work being done by Safe Streets, stating, "Safe Streets sites across the city are putting boots on the ground to prevent violence and build safer communities. This work has helped produce historic reductions in shootings and homicides in Baltimore's most disinvested communities, and the Penn North site going over 365 days without a homicide is yet another example that community violence intervention truly does work."

Councilman James Torrence of District 7 emphasized the importance of collaboration in achieving this milestone, stating, "This achievement would not be possible without Safe Streets, the community, and so many others working together to enhance public safety from the ground up. We need to continue this collaboration and partnership until 365 days without a homicide isn't the exception, but becomes the norm for the Penn North community."

As one of ten Safe Streets locations throughout Baltimore, the Penn North site is operated by Catholic Charities, which also manages other locations including Sandtown-Winchester, Brooklyn, and Cherry Hill. MONSE oversees the Safe Streets program and collaborates with community-based organizations to enhance public safety.

Stefanie Mavronis, director of MONSE, commented on the significance of the milestone, stating, "365 days without a homicide isn't a coincidence. This milestone is an opportunity to acknowledge how far the Penn North community has come, but also an opportunity for us to recommit ourselves to public safety."

Dave Kinkopf, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Baltimore, noted the critical role of community support in achieving this success, saying, "More than a year without a homicide in Penn North demonstrates what's possible when communities are supported through trusted relationships, resources, and meaningful investment."

Reported by HarborBeat based on Baltimore City (.gov) (source).