Maryland Gov. Moore allocates $124.1 million to support law enforcement in proposed 2027 budget
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore plans to allocate $124.1 million to law enforcement in his proposed 2027 budget, he said Thursday.
The governor will need to present his proposed budget to the General Assembly once the 2026 legislative session gets underway on Jan. 14. The budget will need to be passed by the State Senate and House before it can be signed into law by the governor.
The funding for law enforcement would come from the State Aid for Police Protection Program.
"It ensures that when a Marylander calls 911, the person on the other end of the line has the tools that they need to respond," Moore said during the press conference.
Gov. Moore's announcement comes as Maryland continues to see historic drops in violent crime, according to data from the governor's office.
Violent crime declines across Maryland
Homicides in Maryland declined by 25%, non-fatal shootings by 28% and robberies by 25% in 2025, compared to 2024, according to the governor's office.
Data shows that homicide rates reached their lowest in nearly 40 years.
Since Gov. Moore took office in January 2023, homicides have declined by 44% and non-fatal shootings have declined by 40%, his office said.
"We have to be clear, we are making progress, yes, but we will not rest until everybody in all of our communities feels safe," Moore added.
Some neighbors in Federal Hill say they feel safe, despite several violent incidents in 2025, including a fatal shooting in November.
"One of the worst things we see: can't leave a package on your door... I have a Ring camera, and on the app, like every day, there's like 10 or 12 people [saying] my package is stolen," said Suzanne Nehls, from Federal Hill.
"You know, [we've] had a few incidents. You need to lock up your stuff. I think that's pretty much true everywhere," Anne Lane of Ten Hills said.
While violent crime statistics are decreasing, not everyone is feeling safe. One man tells WJZ off-camera that he invites the governor to his neighborhood to see what happens after dark.
Several violent incidents claimed the lives of teenagers in 2025, including a fatal shooting outside The Mall in Columbia in February.
Marshay Eaddy, the mother of Blake McCray, spoke with WJZ exclusively and explained the moment she heard the news from her other son.
"Blake got shot at the mall. I jumped up. It was like I was kind of numb. I got myself together. I called my mom as I'm getting myself together. They're like they said it was a head shot," Eaddy said.
In September 2025, a pastor from Connecticut was carjacked in Upper Fells Point and the altercation was caught on security cameras.
Pastor Kenneth Moales Jr., who serves as the Bishop-Elect for the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bridgeport, Connecticut, told WJZ that he was meeting friends for dinner on East Pratt Street in Upper Fells Point when a teenager approached his car and demanded that he get out.
"…puts the gun to the window and says get out of the car now. Start to think, what is going on? Like, I'm about to get carjacked," Pastor Moales Jr. told WJZ in September.
Maryland's crime reduction strategy
The governor cited his administration's all-of-the-above approach to crime reduction and the following three goals:
- Provide resources and support that law enforcement needs
- Build stronger, more vibrant communities
- Coordinate across all aspects of government to make the state safer
In 2025, the governor reinstated investments into the Maryland Coordination and Analysis Center, with the goal of improving the sharing of information between federal, state and local agencies.
His administration has also provided funding and grants to support new equipment and prioritized investments into the State Office of the Public Defender.
His crime prevention efforts have also helped drastically improve Baltimore's violent crime rates, especially after resources to support city law enforcement agencies were reinstated.
Baltimore leaders cited state partnerships, along with hiring increases, for the historic drop in violent crime.