TU funds grant to enhance public safety in downtown Towson

January 27, 2022

Towson University has funded a grant to the Baltimore County Police Department to immediately provide additional resources for public safety in the downtown Towson area.

Effective Jan. 25, 2022, the grant enables two additional county police officers to patrol the downtown precinct in the overnight hours seven days a week.

"TU is engaged in the surrounding community, through programming and through our people, as an anchor institution for Greater Baltimore," President Kim Schatzel said. "Public safety is a priority for TU, our community and business partners, and our elected officials. This broad public-private cooperation is critical to the success and vibrancy of our Towson community."

A national leader in inclusive excellence, TU begins its spring term on Monday, January 31. TU is recognized as one of the top 100 public universities in the nation and a leader in academic excellence, research and discovery.

TU has worked closely with Baltimore County's public agencies, private businesses and community organizations, leveraging its leadership role as an anchor institution to make a positive impact in the community.

"We work very closely with our partners in the Baltimore County Police Department on a daily basis, with the shared goal of protecting and serving our community," said Joe Herring, TU's Director of Public Safety and Chief of Towson University Police Department.

TU has relocated three key offices to 401 Washington Avenue — a 12-story office building it purchased in 2019 — and across the street operates the StarTUp at the Armory, a business engagement and workforce development center with free co-working space in the historic armory building. Nearby, significant retail, storefront and other commercial private development properties have opened in recent months. More than $1.7 billion in public-private investment is occurring within a quarter-mile of TU's campus.

"The security of downtown Towson is critical as we attract new businesses, residents, and our institutions of higher learning to our county seat," County Councilman David Marks said. "I thank Towson University for its constant engagement and for stepping up to support additional public safety efforts in downtown Towson."