Prosecutor's Community Safety Liaison Lost to Layoffs

The effort of one North Baltimore community to save the job of a community safety liaison in the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s office appears to have been in vain.

Last week, Baltimore City State’s Attorney Gregg Bernstein announced he was eliminating nine community safety liaison positions in his office as a cost-cutting measure.

This week the Charles Village Civic Association launched a campaign to try to pressure Bernstein’s office into keeping Terrell Warren, the top prosecutor's community safety liaison in the Northern District.

But in an interview Thursday, Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke, who represents much of Charles Village, said Bernstein made it clear in budget hearings this week that keeping Warren, in any capacity, wasn’t possible. Bernstein could not be reached for comment.

Clarke, D-District 14, praised Warren’s work helping to coordinate Charles Village’s Court Watch Program. The program is one of the most active in the city. It helps the community track the progress of those accused of committing crimes in the neighborhood through Baltimore’s court system.

“It’s discouraging, and it’s a great loss to us,” Clarke said.