GUEST POST: The Lack of Police Rescources in Ward 7 and Ward 8
This email was forwarded to The Advoc8te for posting to the River East community. If you have a chance please read. What are your thoughts on police resources East of the River? Comments are encouraged. -- The Advoc8te
From: Kristopher Baumann
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 2:49 PM
To: kbrown@dccouncil.us
Cc: nstreeter@dccouncil.us
Subject: The Lack of Police Resources in Ward 7 and Ward 8
Chairman Brown –
As you know, I am the Chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police, Metropolitan Police Department Labor Committee (FOP); the police union that represents the approximately 3600 police officers, detectives, and sergeants of the Metropolitan Police Department. I am writing to you regarding the article in yesterday’s Washington Times entitled: “Burglary spike spurs more cops in D.C. Ward 3 area.” For your convenience, I have attached a copy of the article and included the text at the bottom of this email.
According to the Washington Times, Mayor Gray and Chief Lanier have “flooded” Ward 3 neighborhoods with officers; they have also deployed rapid response units and authorized code one responses to burglary alarms in Ward 3. The article also contained a quote by a Ward 3 resident expressing concerns that the additional officers will not be available after the current spike ebbs.
As an initial matter, the FOP is at a complete loss as to where the additional officers for this flood or “surge” have come from. As you know (because you voted for the cuts), Mayor Fenty and the D.C. Council cut the number of police positions from 4250 sworn officers to less than 3850 officers. Currently we are on track to have about 3700 officers by this time next year. Given the fact that we have already cut 400 police positions, it is unclear where all of these officers could have come from, but if it is from other districts, then we have left other neighborhoods with fewer resources.
More troubling is the public acknowledgement by Chief Lanier that Ward 3 is the focus of the Department, including additional officers, resources, and the adjustment of Department protocols for burglaries in Ward 3. According to Department numbers, burglaries in the Second District (essentially Ward 3), as of December 28, 2010, year to date had increased from 555 in 2009 to 619 in 2010, an increase of 12% (see attached Crime Report). A significant and troubling increase of 64 burglaries. However, at the same time, the Sixth District (Ward 7) has seen burglaries increase from 495 in 2009 to 641 in 2010, an increase of 29%, and the Seventh District (Ward 8) has seen burglaries increase from 781 in 2009 to 991 in 2010, an increase of 27%. That means increase of 146 burglaries in the Sixth District and 210 burglaries in the Seventh District. (In addition, the Sixth and Seventh District have seen an increase in felony sexual assaults, in the Seventh District that increase was 74% year to date as of December 28, 2010 (from 19 in 2009 to 33 in 2010).)
Despite the fact that the residents of Wards 7 and 8 have experienced the largest increases in burglaries (more than double the number in the Second District), the public focus of Mayor Gray and Chief Lanier is now Ward 3. To be clear, the increase in Ward 3 is unacceptable. But, how do we, as a Department, justify this allocation of resources and attention to the rest of the city? Chief Lanier supported Mayor Fenty’s budgets and did not protest the reduction in the number of police positions from 4250 to 3800, as a result, we have far fewer police officers to allocate through out the city. Why should the residents living in the areas with the most crime and most problems receive the least amount of focus and resources? By ignoring neighborhoods with systemic crime problems, we allow crime and violence to build and, as we have seen, the problems and violence in those neighborhoods become city-wide problems.
I find it inexplicable that Chief Lanier and Mayor Gray have “flooded Upper Northwest neighborhoods with officers,” while the rate and actual number of burglaries in Wards 7 and 8 have skyrocketed. As you are aware, I am a Seventh District police officer and when I ran for my elected office as the head of the D.C. Police Union, one of my platforms was to increase resources, manpower, attention, and police outreach to both the Sixth District (Ward 7) and the Seventh District (Ward 8). Not only was I elected Department-wide on that platform, I have been reelected twice. I raise this issue to point out that the police officers of the Metropolitan Police Department through out the city, understand and believe that the failure of the Department and District’s leadership to sufficiently allocate resources and manpower to the Sixth and Seventh District is unacceptable and inexcusable. One of the fundamental tenants and core responsibilities of the FOP is to ensure that the public is being properly protected and that policing in the District is being conducted in a fair and responsible manner. We, as police officers, work for the residents of the District and if the political leaders of this Department refuse to properly care for and respond to the safety needs of residents in economic disadvantaged areas, the FOP will not stand silent while that happens.
When you approached the FOP for an endorsement, the FOP leadership asked that you carefully examine the current council structure and oversight system for law enforcement and public safety. We pointed out that a fresh perspective and aggressive oversight would be instrumental in identifying and correcting systemic problems, reforming resource allocation issues, and rooting out mismanagement. We also pointed out that under the current oversight structure, politicians and staff have been in their positions so long, that in order to initiate any meaningful, aggressive reforms they would have to acknowledge that they had previously failed to provide robust and comprehensive oversight – a significant disincentive to initiating any reforms. You, however, declined to make any changes and allowed the same elected official that has had oversight in this area to remain in place. As we warned, individuals that have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo still have exclusive oversight in this area. The Department and Chief Lanier appear to understand this, and, as a result, it is once again business as usual for police resource allocation in the District. (In fact, in addressing the spike in felony sexual assaults, the Department claimed it did some outreach. Where? Georgetown. Even though felony sexual assaults are up in the Sixth and Seventh District, see Channel 9 article below and the attached Crime Report.)
Given the fact that Chief Lanier has now publicly acknowledged that the Department’s focus is Ward 3 and that a disproportionate amount of Department resources are being utilized in Ward 3, the FOP would ask you to reevaluate how legislative oversight of the police department is going to be conducted. The FOP would also ask that you provide an explanation as to why this disparity is allowed to exist. Right now there are three elected councilmembers from Wards 7 and 8 (including you) and Mayor Gray is from Ward 7 and, yet, the Chief of Police has openly admitted that the Department is taking care of the other side of the city where, while the crime rate is up, it is not up anywhere near the levels being experienced by the residents of Wards 7 and 8. What is it going to take to make this police department and its leadership responsive to the needs of the citizens in the Sixth and Seventh Districts?
As always, I am available to discuss these matters with you or your staff. Thank you for your attention to this issue.
Kristopher Baumann
Chairman
Fraternal Order of Police
Metropolitan Police Department Labor Committee
(202) 548 8300
c.c. (via email): Councilmember Marion Barry
Councilmember Yvette Alexander
In making this request for review, the FOP and its members are making protected disclosures pursuant to D.C. Code section 1-615.52, including, but not limited to, all FOP members involved in providing this information.
Sexual Assaults Increase In DC
9NEWS NOW
12/30/10
WASHINGTON (WUSA) --- Year-end crime statistics in the District indicate an increase in sexual assaults in the city this year but the police union and the police department disagree how much those numbers have jumped.
The Department says 11 percent. The union says it is much higher.
"Violent felony sexual assaults are up almost 50 percent city-wide and in some districts they are up more than 100 percent," said Kristopher Baumann, the chairman of the police union.
Both sides agree the biggest increase has been in the city's Second Police District, which includes Georgetown.
"Because we have seen the increase over there, we're going to increase patrols over there. There's a couple of other investigative techniques that we are going to use over there that we really don't want to discuss," said Assistant Police Chief Peter Newsham.
Newsham says the department advised Georgetown residents of the rise earlier in the year and did community outreach to make those in the area aware of the growing problem and to solicit community input.
Baumann disputes the claim. "The Department has been irresponsible and because of politics they have failed to acknowledge a threat to the public safety," he said.
"What do you mean politics?" asked 9News Now.
"Well Mayor Fenty was running for re-election this summer and as a result the Metropolitan Police Department and Chief (Cathy) Lanier failed to notify the public about a growing, actually off the charts problem throughout the city," Baumann said.
"All we can say is the allegations are false. We have absolutely no reason not to report publicly the crimes that are reported to us. It is in our best interests as a law enforcement unit to know where the crimes are happening and share that with the public.
"The only way we can be effective in fighting crime is if the public knows it's occurring in their particular neighborhood because that gives us an additional set of eyes..." Newsham said.
Burglary spike spurs more cops in D.C.'s Ward 3 area
Lanier's 'surge' results in arrests
By Matthew Cella
The Washington Times3:23 p.m., Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Call it a "surge" of sorts.
Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier says her department has flooded Upper Northwest neighborhoods with officers in response to a string of burglaries that has alarmed residents in recent weeks.
Preliminary Metropolitan Police statistics say burglaries have soared in the last 30 days when compared with the same period last year. The statistics say that from Dec. 3 through Sunday there were 29 burglaries in Ward 3, compared with 13 during the same 30-day period last year.
Citywide, burglaries are also up in the last 30 days, from 272 last year to 384 this year.
Chief Lanier said the jump is "not unusual." She said burglaries typically increase during the holiday season — and this year was no different. But the recent spike in the neighborhood comes after increases, albeit temporary, in other areas of the city at other times this year.
The chief said that, among other things, police deployed a rapid-response unit to patrol neighborhoods in Upper Northwest and have used lights and sirens while responding to burglar alarms and calls about suspicious people.
She said results include a recent 30-day period during which police made 76 burglary arrests and closed more than 80 cases, with additional cases likely to be tied to the suspects in custody.
"The thing that has helped us close a lot of these burglaries is citizens calling in suspicious activity," she said, adding that an increased police presence and neighborhood vigilance helps displace burglars. "Property crimes like burglary and theft-from-auto, the criminals tend to case the area. That's why calling in suspicious activity is so important."
She predicted the uptick will be temporary. And, of course, she reminded people to lock their doors.
Cpl. Daniel Friz, a Montgomery County police spokesman, said they haven't recorded the same type of dramatic jump in the number of burglaries.
He said community services officers post crime information on neighborhood listservs to keep residents aware and dispel rumors. Upon request, officers will perform "residential security surveys" in which they walk through a residence with the occupant and discuss things like whether the lighting is adequate to discourage an intruder and whether the doors and windows are secure.
Cpl. Friz said burglaries seem to be getting more public attention since the death of American University professor Sue Ann Marcum.
Ms. Marcum was found dead in her Bethesda home In October. Deandrew Hamlin, 18 and a DYRS ward, was arrested in the District and charged with driving a Jeep stolen from Ms. Marcum a day earlier.
"That was a burglary gone bad. Very bad. So that has had people concerned," Cpl. Friz said.
Local listservs have been abuzz with reports of burglars who target back doors, entering through ones that are unlocked and sometimes kicking in doors that are bolted.
Jon Bender, an advisory neighborhood commissioner in Upper Northwest, said residents are anxious about the recent spate of property crimes. He described one case recently discussed on MPD's Second District listserv during which the intruder was confronted by a resident. The intruder locked the resident in a closet and cut the home's phone lines. While no one was hurt in that incident, he said, "There's always the possibility that if a burglar confronts a resident, the burglar will panic and turn violent."
Mr. Bender complimented police on how they have communicated with residents about the recent uptick in burglaries. However, he said, he worries about the number of officers who will remain in the neighborhood after the surge is over.
"My major concern is just we don't have enough officers on an ongoing basis up here," he said. "I think the police are doing the right thing now in terms of concentrating some resources in the area temporarily to bring the spike down but I think we're at risk of further spikes."
Amy McVey, a former advisory neighborhood commissioner, agreed that the burglaries are causing anxiety in the community, with people now inquiring about how to reinforce windows and where to purchase security doors.
"People are talking about it," she said. "They're more afraid than I've known them to be and I've lived here my whole life."
The Washington Times reported this week that at least two of the four youths arrested in a recent burglary in the Spring Valley neighborhood are wards of the city's Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS).
The two youths were also wanted in Montgomery County in connection with burglaries in Chevy Chase, along with two other D.C. youths.
Chief Lanier said the vast majority of burglaries occur at unoccupied houses and that many of the cases that do involve juveniles are cases in which a victim is known to the criminal.
She said police don't often see juveniles engage in burglary. Youths more frequently engage in robbery and carjacking than in burglary, in which criminals sometimes remain active much later in their lives than those participating in other crimes.
"Burglary is one of those things that people don't age out of as quickly," she said.
© Copyright 2011 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
From: Kristopher Baumann
Sent: Thursday, January 06, 2011 2:49 PM
To: kbrown@dccouncil.us
Cc: nstreeter@dccouncil.us
Subject: The Lack of Police Resources in Ward 7 and Ward 8
Chairman Brown –
As you know, I am the Chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police, Metropolitan Police Department Labor Committee (FOP); the police union that represents the approximately 3600 police officers, detectives, and sergeants of the Metropolitan Police Department. I am writing to you regarding the article in yesterday’s Washington Times entitled: “Burglary spike spurs more cops in D.C. Ward 3 area.” For your convenience, I have attached a copy of the article and included the text at the bottom of this email.
According to the Washington Times, Mayor Gray and Chief Lanier have “flooded” Ward 3 neighborhoods with officers; they have also deployed rapid response units and authorized code one responses to burglary alarms in Ward 3. The article also contained a quote by a Ward 3 resident expressing concerns that the additional officers will not be available after the current spike ebbs.
As an initial matter, the FOP is at a complete loss as to where the additional officers for this flood or “surge” have come from. As you know (because you voted for the cuts), Mayor Fenty and the D.C. Council cut the number of police positions from 4250 sworn officers to less than 3850 officers. Currently we are on track to have about 3700 officers by this time next year. Given the fact that we have already cut 400 police positions, it is unclear where all of these officers could have come from, but if it is from other districts, then we have left other neighborhoods with fewer resources.
More troubling is the public acknowledgement by Chief Lanier that Ward 3 is the focus of the Department, including additional officers, resources, and the adjustment of Department protocols for burglaries in Ward 3. According to Department numbers, burglaries in the Second District (essentially Ward 3), as of December 28, 2010, year to date had increased from 555 in 2009 to 619 in 2010, an increase of 12% (see attached Crime Report). A significant and troubling increase of 64 burglaries. However, at the same time, the Sixth District (Ward 7) has seen burglaries increase from 495 in 2009 to 641 in 2010, an increase of 29%, and the Seventh District (Ward 8) has seen burglaries increase from 781 in 2009 to 991 in 2010, an increase of 27%. That means increase of 146 burglaries in the Sixth District and 210 burglaries in the Seventh District. (In addition, the Sixth and Seventh District have seen an increase in felony sexual assaults, in the Seventh District that increase was 74% year to date as of December 28, 2010 (from 19 in 2009 to 33 in 2010).)
Despite the fact that the residents of Wards 7 and 8 have experienced the largest increases in burglaries (more than double the number in the Second District), the public focus of Mayor Gray and Chief Lanier is now Ward 3. To be clear, the increase in Ward 3 is unacceptable. But, how do we, as a Department, justify this allocation of resources and attention to the rest of the city? Chief Lanier supported Mayor Fenty’s budgets and did not protest the reduction in the number of police positions from 4250 to 3800, as a result, we have far fewer police officers to allocate through out the city. Why should the residents living in the areas with the most crime and most problems receive the least amount of focus and resources? By ignoring neighborhoods with systemic crime problems, we allow crime and violence to build and, as we have seen, the problems and violence in those neighborhoods become city-wide problems.
I find it inexplicable that Chief Lanier and Mayor Gray have “flooded Upper Northwest neighborhoods with officers,” while the rate and actual number of burglaries in Wards 7 and 8 have skyrocketed. As you are aware, I am a Seventh District police officer and when I ran for my elected office as the head of the D.C. Police Union, one of my platforms was to increase resources, manpower, attention, and police outreach to both the Sixth District (Ward 7) and the Seventh District (Ward 8). Not only was I elected Department-wide on that platform, I have been reelected twice. I raise this issue to point out that the police officers of the Metropolitan Police Department through out the city, understand and believe that the failure of the Department and District’s leadership to sufficiently allocate resources and manpower to the Sixth and Seventh District is unacceptable and inexcusable. One of the fundamental tenants and core responsibilities of the FOP is to ensure that the public is being properly protected and that policing in the District is being conducted in a fair and responsible manner. We, as police officers, work for the residents of the District and if the political leaders of this Department refuse to properly care for and respond to the safety needs of residents in economic disadvantaged areas, the FOP will not stand silent while that happens.
When you approached the FOP for an endorsement, the FOP leadership asked that you carefully examine the current council structure and oversight system for law enforcement and public safety. We pointed out that a fresh perspective and aggressive oversight would be instrumental in identifying and correcting systemic problems, reforming resource allocation issues, and rooting out mismanagement. We also pointed out that under the current oversight structure, politicians and staff have been in their positions so long, that in order to initiate any meaningful, aggressive reforms they would have to acknowledge that they had previously failed to provide robust and comprehensive oversight – a significant disincentive to initiating any reforms. You, however, declined to make any changes and allowed the same elected official that has had oversight in this area to remain in place. As we warned, individuals that have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo still have exclusive oversight in this area. The Department and Chief Lanier appear to understand this, and, as a result, it is once again business as usual for police resource allocation in the District. (In fact, in addressing the spike in felony sexual assaults, the Department claimed it did some outreach. Where? Georgetown. Even though felony sexual assaults are up in the Sixth and Seventh District, see Channel 9 article below and the attached Crime Report.)
Given the fact that Chief Lanier has now publicly acknowledged that the Department’s focus is Ward 3 and that a disproportionate amount of Department resources are being utilized in Ward 3, the FOP would ask you to reevaluate how legislative oversight of the police department is going to be conducted. The FOP would also ask that you provide an explanation as to why this disparity is allowed to exist. Right now there are three elected councilmembers from Wards 7 and 8 (including you) and Mayor Gray is from Ward 7 and, yet, the Chief of Police has openly admitted that the Department is taking care of the other side of the city where, while the crime rate is up, it is not up anywhere near the levels being experienced by the residents of Wards 7 and 8. What is it going to take to make this police department and its leadership responsive to the needs of the citizens in the Sixth and Seventh Districts?
As always, I am available to discuss these matters with you or your staff. Thank you for your attention to this issue.
Kristopher Baumann
Chairman
Fraternal Order of Police
Metropolitan Police Department Labor Committee
(202) 548 8300
c.c. (via email): Councilmember Marion Barry
Councilmember Yvette Alexander
In making this request for review, the FOP and its members are making protected disclosures pursuant to D.C. Code section 1-615.52, including, but not limited to, all FOP members involved in providing this information.
Sexual Assaults Increase In DC
9NEWS NOW
12/30/10
WASHINGTON (WUSA) --- Year-end crime statistics in the District indicate an increase in sexual assaults in the city this year but the police union and the police department disagree how much those numbers have jumped.
The Department says 11 percent. The union says it is much higher.
"Violent felony sexual assaults are up almost 50 percent city-wide and in some districts they are up more than 100 percent," said Kristopher Baumann, the chairman of the police union.
Both sides agree the biggest increase has been in the city's Second Police District, which includes Georgetown.
"Because we have seen the increase over there, we're going to increase patrols over there. There's a couple of other investigative techniques that we are going to use over there that we really don't want to discuss," said Assistant Police Chief Peter Newsham.
Newsham says the department advised Georgetown residents of the rise earlier in the year and did community outreach to make those in the area aware of the growing problem and to solicit community input.
Baumann disputes the claim. "The Department has been irresponsible and because of politics they have failed to acknowledge a threat to the public safety," he said.
"What do you mean politics?" asked 9News Now.
"Well Mayor Fenty was running for re-election this summer and as a result the Metropolitan Police Department and Chief (Cathy) Lanier failed to notify the public about a growing, actually off the charts problem throughout the city," Baumann said.
"All we can say is the allegations are false. We have absolutely no reason not to report publicly the crimes that are reported to us. It is in our best interests as a law enforcement unit to know where the crimes are happening and share that with the public.
"The only way we can be effective in fighting crime is if the public knows it's occurring in their particular neighborhood because that gives us an additional set of eyes..." Newsham said.
Burglary spike spurs more cops in D.C.'s Ward 3 area
Lanier's 'surge' results in arrests
By Matthew Cella
The Washington Times3:23 p.m., Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Call it a "surge" of sorts.
Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier says her department has flooded Upper Northwest neighborhoods with officers in response to a string of burglaries that has alarmed residents in recent weeks.
Preliminary Metropolitan Police statistics say burglaries have soared in the last 30 days when compared with the same period last year. The statistics say that from Dec. 3 through Sunday there were 29 burglaries in Ward 3, compared with 13 during the same 30-day period last year.
Citywide, burglaries are also up in the last 30 days, from 272 last year to 384 this year.
Chief Lanier said the jump is "not unusual." She said burglaries typically increase during the holiday season — and this year was no different. But the recent spike in the neighborhood comes after increases, albeit temporary, in other areas of the city at other times this year.
The chief said that, among other things, police deployed a rapid-response unit to patrol neighborhoods in Upper Northwest and have used lights and sirens while responding to burglar alarms and calls about suspicious people.
She said results include a recent 30-day period during which police made 76 burglary arrests and closed more than 80 cases, with additional cases likely to be tied to the suspects in custody.
"The thing that has helped us close a lot of these burglaries is citizens calling in suspicious activity," she said, adding that an increased police presence and neighborhood vigilance helps displace burglars. "Property crimes like burglary and theft-from-auto, the criminals tend to case the area. That's why calling in suspicious activity is so important."
She predicted the uptick will be temporary. And, of course, she reminded people to lock their doors.
Cpl. Daniel Friz, a Montgomery County police spokesman, said they haven't recorded the same type of dramatic jump in the number of burglaries.
He said community services officers post crime information on neighborhood listservs to keep residents aware and dispel rumors. Upon request, officers will perform "residential security surveys" in which they walk through a residence with the occupant and discuss things like whether the lighting is adequate to discourage an intruder and whether the doors and windows are secure.
Cpl. Friz said burglaries seem to be getting more public attention since the death of American University professor Sue Ann Marcum.
Ms. Marcum was found dead in her Bethesda home In October. Deandrew Hamlin, 18 and a DYRS ward, was arrested in the District and charged with driving a Jeep stolen from Ms. Marcum a day earlier.
"That was a burglary gone bad. Very bad. So that has had people concerned," Cpl. Friz said.
Local listservs have been abuzz with reports of burglars who target back doors, entering through ones that are unlocked and sometimes kicking in doors that are bolted.
Jon Bender, an advisory neighborhood commissioner in Upper Northwest, said residents are anxious about the recent spate of property crimes. He described one case recently discussed on MPD's Second District listserv during which the intruder was confronted by a resident. The intruder locked the resident in a closet and cut the home's phone lines. While no one was hurt in that incident, he said, "There's always the possibility that if a burglar confronts a resident, the burglar will panic and turn violent."
Mr. Bender complimented police on how they have communicated with residents about the recent uptick in burglaries. However, he said, he worries about the number of officers who will remain in the neighborhood after the surge is over.
"My major concern is just we don't have enough officers on an ongoing basis up here," he said. "I think the police are doing the right thing now in terms of concentrating some resources in the area temporarily to bring the spike down but I think we're at risk of further spikes."
Amy McVey, a former advisory neighborhood commissioner, agreed that the burglaries are causing anxiety in the community, with people now inquiring about how to reinforce windows and where to purchase security doors.
"People are talking about it," she said. "They're more afraid than I've known them to be and I've lived here my whole life."
The Washington Times reported this week that at least two of the four youths arrested in a recent burglary in the Spring Valley neighborhood are wards of the city's Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS).
The two youths were also wanted in Montgomery County in connection with burglaries in Chevy Chase, along with two other D.C. youths.
Chief Lanier said the vast majority of burglaries occur at unoccupied houses and that many of the cases that do involve juveniles are cases in which a victim is known to the criminal.
She said police don't often see juveniles engage in burglary. Youths more frequently engage in robbery and carjacking than in burglary, in which criminals sometimes remain active much later in their lives than those participating in other crimes.
"Burglary is one of those things that people don't age out of as quickly," she said.
© Copyright 2011 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.