Brian Card, CSNA's Public Safety Chair, provided the following notes from the Metropolitan Police Department's (MPD) PSA 305 meeting, April 7, 2009, at the Housing Finance Agency. In addition to MPD, several District agencies were in attendance. MPD was represented by Captain Snyder, Lt. Jova, Marco Santiago, MPO Wilson, and Sgt. Jackson; three representatives from the Office of Unified Communications (3-1-1/9-1-1); two representatives from Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA); Yaiza Garabito-Burrell from the Executive Office the Mayor. A number of residents and local businesses were also in attendence.
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Read more for the complete meeting notes.
An MPD third district roster was provided to all in attendance. While not discussed at the meeting it indicated only one Lt for PSA 305 - Lt. Jova (previously there had been two Lts. for PSA 305). Jova & Santiago discussed robberies. These seem to be occurring Tuesday/Friday/Saturday evenings/midnight. They did make 2 onsite arrests for robberies (2000 block of Georgia Ave, & 13th/U Street). MPD suggested exercising caution in use of cell phone/ipods, being aware of circumstances, and being cautious about being approached from behind. MPD indicated that there were two groups of suspects: a group of 2 or more young males using force but no gun; and an older male using gun. MPD also discussed issues with thefts from autos. Major items stolen include: GPS, gym bags, purses, coins – generally things in plain view. Thefts from autos seem to be spread across the whole PSA305.
Residents of 8th Street raised concerns about sales of drugs near the flea market at Florida and 8th Street, and around a property at 1900 8th Street, NW. Lt. Jova said they would check on that.
Residents of 8th Street raised concerns about sales of drugs near the flea market at Florida and 8th Street, and around a property at 1900 8th Street, NW. Lt. Jova said they would check on that.
Another resident raised an issue about a wide brick alley between 8th/9th St & S/T in which car windows are broken into, youth are smoking weed. Resident indicated that there are lights that are not functioning that they have called the city on.
Captain Snyder gave a report out on the incident on January 24, 2009, in which there was a prolonged street fight involving nearly 20 young people. There had been some complaints on neighborhood list serves in terms of 9-1-1 service, delay in MPD arrival, and MPD not doing a report associated with car damage. Captain Snyder indicated that this incident started inside Axum at a birthday party (1934 9th St), that there was an initial incident on 9th Street and that approximately 60 minutes later another incident on T Street. Captain Snyder indicated that a unit responded within minutes at T St., and suggested that complaints of police delay in response may have been due to the police being at the scene, but at the other end of the block.
Captain Snyder gave a report out on the incident on January 24, 2009, in which there was a prolonged street fight involving nearly 20 young people. There had been some complaints on neighborhood list serves in terms of 9-1-1 service, delay in MPD arrival, and MPD not doing a report associated with car damage. Captain Snyder indicated that this incident started inside Axum at a birthday party (1934 9th St), that there was an initial incident on 9th Street and that approximately 60 minutes later another incident on T Street. Captain Snyder indicated that a unit responded within minutes at T St., and suggested that complaints of police delay in response may have been due to the police being at the scene, but at the other end of the block.
Captain Snyder indicated that they are encouraging the business to use “reimbursable details”. The representatives from ABRA (Alcohol Beverage Regulation Administration) said that Axum has been to the ABC Board last week and will be called in for fact finding hearing.
ABRA representatives indicated that there were several establishments in that vicinity (1900 9th St, Florida) that have had MPD 251s (report from MPD to ABRA for any police involvement in an establishment) as well as citizen complaints that they are focusing on.
It was suggested that MPD should consider the Mid-City Business Association’s effort to do business peer to peer work to help establishments in setting up effective night-life policy management including security and training of employees.
Question was raised to Captain Snyder about the complaint that the police had not made a report that a citizen had asked for relating to car damage, Snyder indicated that this wasn’t true.
The representatives from the Office of Unified Communications (Athena Plumber) discussed their policies in terms of taking 911 calls on matters such as this (calls go to first available unit, or if not unit available they “voice” it over the system). The Office of Unified Communications handles the 911 calls (1.3 million last year) and the 311 calls (2.3 million last year). Ms. Plumber discussed her office’s effort to ensure quality, which includes monitoring of phone calls, taping of phone calls, and new procedures they are putting in place.
Yaiza Garabito-Burrell also introduced herself, she is in the Mayor’s office Outreach and Service Specialist. She is responsible for the “fix-its”.
The representatives from the Office of Unified Communications (Athena Plumber) discussed their policies in terms of taking 911 calls on matters such as this (calls go to first available unit, or if not unit available they “voice” it over the system). The Office of Unified Communications handles the 911 calls (1.3 million last year) and the 311 calls (2.3 million last year). Ms. Plumber discussed her office’s effort to ensure quality, which includes monitoring of phone calls, taping of phone calls, and new procedures they are putting in place.
Yaiza Garabito-Burrell also introduced herself, she is in the Mayor’s office Outreach and Service Specialist. She is responsible for the “fix-its”.