Notes from Town Hall Meeting on Crime

Meeting Notes posted on this site are NOT OFFICIAL MINUTES, but can give you different perspectives of what is happening in the county. More meeting notes can be found here. Newspaper reports about meetings can often be found in Newsletter archives - a brief description and a link to the story are in weekly e-newsletters.

Dec. 3, 2003 - Ft. Washington

Jack Johnson & Tony Knotts called this mtg.

Public Safety Director Huron - custumer care & quality care is goal: police, fire & emergency preparedness.

Chief High - building partnerships, shifting paradigm on how they do business - community policing - community-oriented attitude, prevention, law enforcement & justice - how do they improve to address the crimes that occur. Dviding ciunty into districts,community service areas, & beat for community police to patrol. Training pilot parolers for 2 districts - test to be complete by July 1. Citizen's police academy - learn how you can help. Reduced violent crime. Began Operation Safe Holidays increases police presence in shopping areas - meeting shopkeepers & shopers & creating something different. All Hands On Deck - putting office people on patrol, including Chief High & Col. Cox - working12 hr days.

Q & A

Disturances in HS's: Some schools have resource office w/ police there

Prison: Fed. Bureau put out proposals & ind's put in buildng proposals w/o discusiing w/ them - all on record as opposed & standing firm to prevent it but will need help from citizens - will inform when to come out

Beat: will be both car & foot & they're to get to know the people & have business cards to give them.

New facility to be developed by'07 & more officers. Johnson says they know they need more officers, but gave COLAs to present staff w/o running the deficit that Mont. Co. has.

Morale is up from 6 mos. ago. $1.9B is total budget; public safety is ~$2M, majority is for education. Need more revenue - getting mire from new housing permits & loans.

Troopers in south county scarce - lull in state troopers, but should contact local police office w/ cocerns. County & state will be working closer together to make roads safe. Also working regionally (w/ DC).

Can hire people to cover private parking lots. False alarms use up too much of their time - may have to tax & need to make best use of officers.

Cause of auto theft & gang violence increase?: Breakdown in family - many by young kids age 12 & under. Kids are rearing themselves. Tremendous drug problem - illegal & Rx in all US.

Response time: emergency 5-8 mins. - fairly good. Citizens can help by ;ulling over for cars. Other calls 20-30 mins.; often respond by phone when possible.

AAFB area forum? Need to contact Bland, though Knotts also reps so. co. - there will be crime forums thruoghout county. Johnson spoke to Bland & she will have one sometime in Jan.

Family & Human services not well funded - have started increasing that. Seniors need transportation to dr.'s & many people don't have health insurance. Helping Boy's & Girls' Clubs get resources to provide services. Churches can help, too.

Closing DC/Oxon Hill door?: working w/ DC & Fed. officers - 2 or 3 task forces also working on it.

Pawn shops & carrying mace?: need to be careful, keys in hand, stay in lighted areas; proactive enforcing codes on shops, not licensing pawn shops any more, keep them from trafficking stolen goods. If out late, get & use whistle - noise is good defense & referred over weapons that can be turned on you. Need to identify your items - keep receipts & seria numbers; lock car, partner w/ someone, make phone call if don't feel safe, don't leave purse in cart or in car while pumping gas.

Strip clubs are legal in MD & PG will regulate them but need help to see problems & work out ways to keep county beautiful.

Johnson wrapped up w/ how well we're doing w/maximum diversity - we serve as a model to world; & industries want to invest here.

NOTE: This was held at the National Church of God, which is a large and beautiful building with cameras projecting the speakers on both sides of the stage.

- submitted by Joyce Dowling

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