On April 5, 1982, the late Commissioner Frank J. Battaglia signed a general order for the procedures to be followed by Police Department members in the event of a “Signal 13”. Eighteen (18) months later, Commissioner called upon a group of civilians to assist active Police Department Personnel with unexpected off-duty hardships. This group became the Signal 13 Foundation.

The Board has grown from approximately 16 members to a current total of 38 members. Various calls to the foundation have been responded to in providing:

• Lodging and food for out of town families of officers killed or injured in the line of duty
• Lodging, clothing, etc. for persons whose homes have been damaged by fire, water, and so forth
• Assistance when personnel have been unable to work any secondary employment, because of injury etc. or overtime wasn’t available , and got behind in mortgage payments and monthly bills
• Assistance with funeral and burial expenses when there was no insurance available
• Emergency funds for air travel when individuals or their family members were injured and out-of-state and had to be flown back to Baltimore

Signal 13 is a call to assist an Officer. Across the City, a unique alert tone followed by a voice broadcast: “Signal 13” tells every Officer in the field, one of their own is in need of assistance. Although the traditional passing of the hat will never entirely be replaced, the Frank J. Battaglia Signal 13 Foundation offers financial grants to those faced with personal emergencies.