We’re Here to Help!
Exceptional communities like Frederick don’t just “happen.” They evolve through civic engagement, respect for others, and the commitment of residents to offer a warm and inviting atmosphere for all. Let’s join together and work towards a safe, welcoming and prosperous environment for all our citizens and visitors.
Goals & Mission
The goal of the Downtown Safety & Services Initiative is to provide a downtown environment of:
- Safety for all
- Respect for the individual
- Vibrancy for the community
To ensure that Frederick is a thriving and healthy city for all members of its population, the Downtown Safety & Services Initiative is focusing its efforts in the areas of safety, economic opportunity and beautification, while making sure that the most vulnerable in our community have access to the support services they need.
Organizational Structure
In response to concerns expressed by community stakeholders regarding the safety and vibrancy of downtown Frederick, the Downtown Safety & Services Initiative was born. It was conceived as a community initiative facilitated by the Ausherman Family Foundation to address these issues. DSSI has a strong commitment from the Mayor’s office and will be co-led by Peter Couchman (Ausherman Family Foundation) and Gayon Sampson (Mayor’s Office). The Downtown Safety & Services Initiative has significant support from the following:
- Human service providers
- Nonprofit organizations
- Residents
- Businesses
- Faith community members
- The Frederick Police Department
- Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office
- Government entities
The structure of the initiative includes five committees, each dedicated to making Frederick a safe and compassionate place to live, work and play.
Committees
Environmental Design & Programming—Examine policing through environmental design and investigate park activation and programming as positive deterrents to undesirable behaviors
Services & Coordination—Analyze the current human services being provided, the needs of the population, and the coordination of programs; investigate options for providing and increasing accessibility of services
Ambassador Program—Investigate outside ambassador programs that can augment the City’s efforts in city beautification, security presence, human services outreach, and visitor hospitality
Public Messaging—Deter both panhandling and giving to panhandlers; educate the community on the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness, addiction and mental health issues
Security & Enforcement—Evaluate existing law enforcement conditions and recommend legislative changes; establish a network of private and public security cameras that can be connected to the Frederick Police system
Public Meetings
The Downtown Safety & Services Initiative is hosting a series of open-door meetings for the public to learn about our progress, findings and proposals. Sign up for our email newsletter to receive these announcements and keep up to date on the Downtown Safety & Services Initiative’s work. We also post meeting dates and times on this website.
Stay tuned for the next public meeting date!
Send a Message
Can’t make a meeting or just want to share your feedback? Submit a message or sign up for the email newsletter here. We want to hear from you!
