The following note is from MPD Sgt. Richard Ehrlich:

Good Day to Everyone!

Below is the agenda for Friday's meeting on pedestrian/cyclist/motorist safety. The meeting will be at 6:30 pm located at 415 4th Street, SW in the community room.

Although we will be focusing on traffic locations in PSA 102, anyone who is interested in learning more about the "rules of the road" for road users is encouraged to attend.

In regards to Skip Coburn's earlier discussion about bike lanes, I came across this website that discusses the cycling friendly city of Copenhagen, Denmark road system.
http://cycleliciousness.blogspot.com/2007/11/more-bikes-means-less-accidents.html

AGENDA:

Ø Greeting and welcome: Lieutenant Barbara Hawkins and Sergeant Richard
Ehrlich

Ø Introductions

Ø My ride through the city: Sergeant Richard Ehrlich

Ø Discuss the legal responsibilities of all road users and dispel some
myths. Eric Gilliland, Executive Director, Washington Area Bicyclist
Association (WABA)

Ø Identify areas that have a high risk of crashes, in addition to East
Capitol Street and H Street, NE

Ø Develop a list of possible solutions

Ø Discuss the need for follow-up meetings

Ø Closing comments

One final reminder; please email me at richard.ehrlich@dc.gov as reply emails through Yahoo are not very reliable.

Sincerely,

Sergeant Richard Ehrlich

Burglaries in and around the Capitol Hill area have recently increased around the Thanksgiving holiday, according to Lt. Barbara Hawkins. She has asked for additional manpower and a "burglary tactical" unit, but could not elaborate on operational details.

In the meantime, however, you can help reduce chances a burglar will target your home or neighborhood. According to MPD, take a look at your home from the outside, and keep in mind the following tips to help make your home as safe as it can be:

* Burglars hate bright lights. Install outside lights and keep them on at night. Motion-detector lights can be particularly effective.

* Keep your yard clean. Prune shrubbery so it doesn’t hide windows or doors. Cut back tree limbs that a burglar could use to climb to an upper-level window.

* If you travel, create the illusion that you are at home by getting timers that will turn lights (and perhaps a television or radio) on and off in different parts of your home throughout the day and evening hours. Lights burning 24 hours a day signal an empty house.

* Leave shades, blinds, and curtains in normal positions. And make sure you don’t let your mail and/or newspapers pile up. Call the post office and newspaper to stop delivery or have a neighbor pick them up.

* Make a list of your valuables, such as VCRs, stereos, computers, and jewelry. Take pictures of the items, list their serial numbers and description. This will help police if your home is burglarized.

* Ask your District police station for a free home security survey.

* When getting work done on your vehicle, leave only the vehicle key for the service personnel. The same goes for car park attendants and valets.

* If you are having work done on your vehicle, give the service station your business address – not your home address.

* Call 311 to report a description of any unfamiliar people or vehicles—even ones posing as workers.

For more safety tips, visit the MPD website.

MPD Lt. John Alter of the First District's Vice Squad speaks during the November 13, 2007 PSA 102 meeting. (Photo Copyright © 2007. David Klavitter)

PSA 102 Meeting
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
7-8:30 p.m.
Sherwood Recreation Center

Special thanks to Roger Mattioli for recording minutes.

MINUTES

A. Welcome – Dave Klavitter, PSA Citizen Coordinator and Lt. Barbara Hawkins, PSA 102, guests and officers.

B. Crime Stats: Volunteer, Roger Mattioli reviewed crime stats from last 30 days.
Lt. Hawkins Report:
• To date, five arrests for burglary; several good arrests in past week.
• Burglaries occurring in idle of week, breaking back doors and windows, taking laptops, etc.
• At least 20 burglaries have been closed over the past few months.
• Many officers were called in response to the IMF meetings and other such events.
• Lt says there is good communication between different shifts of MPD, U.S. Attorney’s offices and CSOSA.
• Lt. feels that good progress is being made re: robberies and burglaries.
• Orange hat patrols (groups of citizen walkers) on Wednesday and Thursday evenings.
• Homicide on 900 block of 12th Street NE in alley. Gunshot wound in chest. Close to being closed. No apparent ties to the community.

C. Lt. Review of Hotspots (Reported problem areas from emails, phone calls, etc.)
• 1100 block of H ST; 1000 block of 6th ST; 800 block of 10th ST alley; 600 block of 10th ST; 1200 block of Linden; 600 block of Orleans; 600 block of Pickford Pl.; 900 block of 12th ST
• These problem spots are often drug related
• Among the sworn officers assigned to PSA 102, the following foot and bike patrols have been assigned to specific areas within our community. These beats are based on 30-day crime patterns and projected fall increases, and were revised on 10/20/2007.

D. Current Beats
800-1300 block of H ST NE:
• MIDNIGHT SHIFT: Officers L. Cummings and K. McAbee
• DAY: Officers A. Williams and S. Ferris
• EVENINGS: Officers F. Caudle and K. Fersner
North side of H St. NE / 800-1000 block of 10th St NE, including I, K, L, and Kent Place NE:
• MIDNIGHT SHIFT: Officer K. Johnson (mountain bike)
• DAY: Officers W. Hanbury and S. Brown (footbeat)
• EVENINGS: Officers I. Thermidor and R. Mazloom (mountain bike)
800-1300 block of Maryland Ave NE, including 600 block of 10th, 11th, and 12th St. NE:
• MIDNIGHT SHIFT: Officers C. Harmison and O. Aremu (footbeat)
• DAY: Officer M. Creek (footbeat)
• EVENINGS: Officers M. Pitts and J. Knapp (footbeat)

E. First District Vice Squad Lt. John Alter
• MPD vice units target narcotics, alcohol, auto theft, weapons, untaxed cigarettes and other vice related offenses.
• Lt. Alter worked in PSA 102 area 20 years ago
• There is been a change in the way the vice unit is doing business. Focused mission has been replaced by the vice unit.
• In PSA 102 there have been 122 arrests this year. There is a five-year mandatory sentence if there is a weapon involved.
• The Lt. likes to review stats and plan accordingly, paying special attention to the close relationship between crime and drug activity.
• The vice unit has gone back to more traditional policing, gathering information, email and conversations with officers is helpful.
• Each PSA has 2 officers dealing with search warrants. In last three weeks, seven searches conducted in 1D.
• The vice unit power shift has a proactive approach.
• Residents are encouraged to call if they see anything suspicious (people coming/going frequently from home; suspicious car sitting in front of house, etc.). Don’t be afraid. Vice unit is looking for leads and needs the community’s help.
• There are six people in the 1D auto theft unit; 45 people in the 1D power shift.
• TAC unit to address particular type of crimes – burglaries, robberies, thefts.
• Residents expressed concern over prostitution at Parker Street NE. NSID group is responsible for handling prostitution issues.
• Residents expressed concern over inability of getting statistical evidence of drug and prostitution arrests in the PSA
• US Attorney’s Office distributed a report of papered cases of individual drugs, prostitution, etc.
• Lt. Alter provided contact information: john.alter@dc.gov; 1D vice unit phone # 202.698.0562

F. Break out session – residents meet with MPD officers

G. Adjourned at 8:35 p.m. Next meeting is Tuesday, Dec. 11.

Among the sworn officers assigned to PSA 102, the following foot and bike patrols have been assigned to specific areas within our community. These beats are based on 30-day crime patterns and projected fall increases, and were revised on 10/20/2007.

>>>>> 800-1300 block of H ST NE
MIDNIGHT SHIFT: Officers L. Cummings and K. McAbee
DAY: Officers A. Williams and S. Ferris
EVENINGS: Officers F. Caudle and K. Fersner

>>>>> North side of H St. NE / 800-1000 block of 10th St NE, including I, K, L, and Kent Place NE
MIDNIGHT SHIFT: Officer K. Johnson (mountain bike)
DAY: Officers W. Hanbury and S. Brown (footbeat)
EVENINGS: Officers I. Thermidor and R. Mazloom (mountain bike)

>>>>> 800-1300 block of Maryland Ave NE, including 600 block of 10th, 11th, and 12th St. NE
MIDNIGHT SHIFT: Officers C. Harmison and O. Aremu (footbeat)
DAY: Officer M. Creek (footbeat)
EVENINGS: Officers M. Pitts and J. Knapp (footbeat)

OCTOBER BURGLARIES (click to enlarge)

Crime statistics information provided by the Metropolitan Police Department website. Click here to map your own crime stats.

Monthly papered arrests for the First District also are compiled by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia. Click here to access those.

The Metropolitan Police Department is offering up to $25,000 reward for information related to a Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007 homicide. According to police, Alberta Dunton was killed in the rear alley of the 900 block of 12th St. NE.

Click here for more information.

This is the second homicide in PSA 102 during 2007. The first occured on Feb. 1, 2007, and is close to being solved, according to PSA 102 Lt. Barbara Hawkins.

WHAT: Police Service Area (PSA) 102 monthly meeting
WHEN: Nov. 13, 2007 (2nd Tuesday of each month)
TIME: 7-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Sherwood Recreation Center, 640 10th St NE

First District Vice Squad Lt. John Alter will be our guest. He will explain more about his unit and how it combats crime in the community. MPD vice units target narcotics, prostitution, weapons and other vice related offenses.

AGENDA:
* Welcome and overview

* PSA 102 representative at commander’s Citizen Advisory Council

* Review October crime stats / trends

* Homicide, rear of the 900 block of 12th St. NE on Nov. 1

* PSA 102 hotspots
- Officer beats on bikes, scooters, updated H Street NE footbeat patrol
- Aggressive juveniles clustering outside Sherwood Rec Center
- Update on shuttered nuisance property at 811 10th Street NE

* First District Vice Lt.

* Small group time with the officers
Group with those who reside in your immediate area. Discuss the crimes and safety issues in that area, specifically, descriptions of the person committing the act, vehicles, house numbers, time of day, etc. Discuss this with the officer(s). Think about any solutions to the current issues and consider which apply to neighbors, MPD, and/or other city agencies.

**** PSA 102 meetings enable residents and police to discuss, identify and take action against crime and other quality of life issues in the community. The meetings are the second Tuesday of each month at the Sherwood Recreation Center, 10th and G Streets NE. 7-8:30 p.m. The PSA 102 boundaries are (clockwise) the railroad tracks at Union Station, Florida Ave NE, Maryland Ave NE, 9th St, East Capitol St, 2nd St, Massachusetts Ave, and Columbus Circle.
****

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PSA 102, photos, crime maps and more go to http://psa102.blogspot.com.

QUESTIONS? Contact:
David Klavitter
Volunteer PSA 102 Citizen Coordinator
202-547-5745
klav@questforquiet.org

Lt. Barbara Hawkins
Metropolitan Police Dept.
202-698-0380
barbaram.hawkins@dc.gov

Metropolitan Police Department patrol cars are getting outfitted with laptop computers to allow officers to perform local and national criminal record checks, receive dispatch calls and submit police reports, according to an MPD release.

MPD said locators are installed on each of the laptops, allowing dispatchers to locate officers anywhere in the city. The technology also gives officers the ability to receive and respond to calls for service without the use of a radio.

Currently, 10 cars have the new laptops. Approximately 200 patrol cruisers will be retrofitted per quarter with the new technology, ultimately installing the laptops in all 800 patrol cars. Cost is about $6,500 per car, said MPD.

With daylight growing shorter, it's a good time to check the streetlights in front and in the alley of your home. Ensure porch lights are on at dark. Use light sensors and motion detectors. Put inside lights on a timer.

For darkened or broken streetlights, call Mayor’s hotline at 727-1000 and the city will typically fix within 48 hours. You can also submit requests online. Click here to access it.