MINUTES FROM PSA 102 MEETING
July 10, 2007 at 7:00 p.m.
(second Tuesday of every month)
Sherwood Recreation Center
10th and G St NE

Thank you to Donna Anaya, who volunteered to take meeting notes!

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Volunteer PSA 102 Citizen Coordinator Dave Klavitter convened the meeting and asked everyone to introduce themselves. Officials and special guests present included Lt. Barbara Hawkins, MPOs Leon Johnson and James Burgess, and Ofc. Simmons from MPD; Michael Bonds w/ CSOSA; and Marius (Mike) Korwin w/ ADT.

Lt. Hawkins provided her new cell phone number (202-506-0683) to citizens and asked that they use it judiciously.

Klavitter announced that a closed circuit TV has been installed at 4th & L Sts. NE; a second camera installed at 8th & H Sts. has helped close several cases over the past year.

Hawkins informed citizens about two new sergeants in PSA 102: Sgt. Domas (on midnight shift) and Sgt. Jones who replaces Sgt. Washington.

The H Street Festival will be on Saturday, September 15.

BURGLARIES AND OTHER INCIDENTS

Hawkins reported that burglaries are continuing but that two arrests in PSA 102 have been made. She urged citizens to take act responsibly by locking all doors and windows.

Hawkins and Johnson discussed the shooting involving a Capitol Hill police officer and a suspect who subsequently died. The incident took place on July 9 in the 1200 block of 5th St. (at 5th & M), NE at 6:05 pm. They also reported on a stabbing on 5th St. between L & M Sts. NE on Sunday, July 8 at 2:00 am. The case, which appeared to be domestic violence, has since been closed. And lastly, they reported on a recent sexual assault case (at 3rd & I Sts. NE) in which a suspect has been arrested and the case remains open.

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT

Hawkins and citizens discussed National Night Out on Tuesday, August 7, and various options to bring neighbors and police officers together. All agreed to meet on the patio of the Argonaut Tavern at 1433 H Sts NE at 6:00 pm (the patio sits on Maryland Ave. NE). Neighbors will then walk west on H Street to Sherwood Rec Center and be joined by 1D Cmdr. Diane Groomes who will address the group. Business owners along H Street will be encouraged to come out and meet and/or walk with the citizens.

ADT PRACTICES

Mike Korwin, a Senior Security Advisor w/ ADT (based in Springfield, VA), spoke to citizens to address complaints voiced about so-called ADT representatives who were knocking on residents’ doors. Korwin informed citizens about ADT’s practices with respect to calling on residents. He said it’s not all that common for ADT salespeople to go door-to-door; they generally rely on word of mouth, their website or relationships with retailers such as Home Depot or Best Buy.

However, those employees who may go door-to-door and any other ADT employees are required to wear ID badges and carry a license issued by ADT operations in either Maryland or Virginia. They also are subject to background checks. ADT does not use any contractors, nor does it have any control over authorized ADT dealers/representatives who may engage in door-to-door sales.

Citizens were advised to ask any persons for proper identification or, better yet, not to allow anyone to enter their home unless they initiated the visit. Call 311 and police will swing by neighborhood to verify representative’s legitimacy.

LET THERE BE LIGHTS

MPO Burgess, who works the midnight shift, asked citizens to help him do his job more efficiently. He said big, full grown trees often block street lights and he encouraged residents to keep outside lights on at night to help illuminate their houses.

If necessary, residents should report any non-working street lights by submitting a request for service to the city’s service center (202-727-1000 or online at www.dc.gov).

Burgess also asked residents to put a placard displaying their house number on the back of their houses so he can easily identify addresses while patrolling in alleys or driveways behind houses. He also encouraged citizens to email www.dc.gov to follow up on service requests for lights or tree trimming.

CRIME STATISTICS

Citizen Roger Mattioli reported on last month’s crime stats which generally showed downward trends. Specifically, burglaries were up and continue to be a concern; street robberies were down.

CITIZEN PATROLS

Mattioli invited citizens to walk with his Orange Hat patrol each Wednesday at 7:30 pm beginning at Stuart-Hobson Middle School at the 400 block of E St. NE. ANC 6C Commissioner Anne Phelps announced a one-hour Community Safety Walk (patrol) beginning on Thursday, July 12, and continuing each Thursday thereafter. Citizens should meet at 7:00 pm at J.O. Wilson Elementary School at 7th & K Sts. NE. (Block captain Brandon Bies is also helping to organize the patrol.)

Ofcr. Johnson offered to provide an officer to walk with each group as often as possible. He stated that Wednesdays are the best day to get officers to participate in community events because all PSA officers are on duty that day.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm. Next month’s meeting will be on Tuesday, August 14, 2007.