Preliminary Report: ANC5-A Crime

HotSpots Forum of May 24, 2006

Preliminary findings of “Crime Hot Spots” Community forum of May 24^th, 2006 at Burroughs Elementary School conducted by ANC5-A in collaboration with the Criminal Justice and Law enforcement Community:

Submitted by and Coordinated with participation from: ANC5-A, Fayette Vaughn-Lee 5-D, Outreach Coordinator, Rudy Knott ANC5A10, FMMalone, Chair, ANC 5-A, Francine Edmunds, NSC, Janai Grant, Concerned Neighbors.

The Distinguished panel:

Lt. Stroud, MPD 5D,Psa 502

Commander William Malone, Metro-Transit Police

Lt. Davis, United States Park Police

David Saybolt, Office of the Attorney General, Community Prosecutor’s Office

Janene Jackson, clerk of the Committee on the Judiciary, D.C. City Council

The meeting was guest facilitated by Ms. Linda Perkins the director of Community Outreach from Council Member Oranges Office. Serving on the panel were Lt Stroud, MPD 5D,PSA 502,Commander William Malone, Metro-Transit Police (202-962-2121), U.S. Park Police Major Hay (202-619-7300),

Mr. David Saybolt, The Community Prosecutors Office of the Attorney General, Ms. Francine Edmunds, NSC, the Office of the Mayor, Ms. Fayette Vaughn-Lee, community Outreach coordinator MPD5D.

The panelist each were given a 5 minute timeslot to explain to the community their position and how they all figure into the Cities plan to control crime and to eliminate the” Hotspots” that are causing community concerns. The following recommendations, ideas and strategies were recorded:

Community Prosecutor Saybolt shares that bill (6-372), Mandatory Juvenile reporting amendment and asked citizens to look at this bill, which is designed to address juvenile crime. He shared his email address, which is david.saybolt@usdoj.gov and offered his services to the community with regards to removing unwanted criminals from the community.

Taft Area- the Taft area sparked much community concern as to why this area was not a designated “Hot Spot”. The response was that the number of calls for service was not high enough to generate special concern from MPD. The community needs to call on every suspicious activity and crime committed by these groups who smoke weed at our playgrounds and sell drugs in the dark corners of our community. The evidence sited was the empty plastic bags that they all leave behind after large groups congregate on Otis Street and adjacent alleys and streets.

The group requested greater police presence, not ride through but bike patrols and motorcycles and foot patrols. The community also was told to keep calling and reporting illegal activity even if they had to be stealth or anonymous!

The bottom line was that there are good kids playing games, smelling marijuana and observing a group that stands around and their games as cover for illegal activities. The community wants action as we look at the resources that we can bring together to counter this criminal element. In short the Otis Street, Taft community lacks the protection they feel they deserve. We need to revisit how our resources are distributed.

Young people in need of supervision and resources- The panel and the community agreed that there are too few programs for young teens to prevent them from getting into trouble. The community wants better programs and services that target youth for more positive activities. Bring back a stronger neighborhood Youth leadership team and focus them on the problem areas such as Turkey thicket and Taft.

According to community members and leaders, too many youth have been observed drinking alcohol, using /selling drugs, throwing trash, hanging out late. The group discussed the curfew law of 11pm on weekdays and 12:00am on weekends for juveniles.

The group also discussed barring individuals from certain areas using the filing of a complaint by concerned citizens, police and targeted enforcement by the prosecutor’s office.

Intervention- the group discussed the methods of gaining the upper hand on crime by incorporating the following methodologies:

Bicycle Patrols/assigned to these targeted areas

Encouraging and Enforcing stay away orders

Judge and Court involvement/education of judges and decision makers

Developing a community impact statement

Apt complexes need bar notices

Metro Bus managers need intercom driven communication for school Groups who become uncooperative

Cross border cooperation at the Md./PG CTY line especially at Mt Rainier

There is a need for Collaborative Coordinated Action in Our Neighborhoods/all Police and other agencies need better coordination

Recommendations:

Target turkey thicket and Taft as area hot spots.

Increase resources for youth involvement

Fund programs to prevent crime

Train the community to report crime and not be afraid

Continue our dialogue

Create collaboration with all the agencies present and develop some strategies.

Involve the churches

Break up the criminals who smoke drugs while our children play football, baseball and basketball.

Take our concerns to the PSA meetings and strategize for some progress and relief.

Press for greater Police visibility when our children engage in sport

Encourage a safe and sane community by collaborating and communicating with civic, church, ANC, Police and other Organizations united for a safer Community.

File a statement of community impact.

Appoint a community led Campaign against crime and hold another forum.

This report is respectfully submitted for your examination, comment and action and will be the basis of the community’s formulation of further strategies that will help us to better protect our families, children and property.

Sincerely,

Franklyn M. Malone, Chairman, ANC5-A