After a recent department reorganization, local police officers came to a neighborhood meeting Tuesday night to discuss the changes and respond to community concerns.
During a presentation at the Foggy Bottom Association meeting, police officials detailed what a change in officer patrols and a focus on community policing would mean for the area near campus.
In April, the patrol services bureau of the Metropolitan Police Department was split into two sections – Patrol Services North, which includes the police district that encompasses Foggy Bottom, and Patrol Services South. The split occurred two months after Mayor Muriel Bowser nominated Peter Newsham as the permanent police chief.
Patrol Chief Lamar Greene, who leads Patrol Service North, said during a presentation that the divide was meant to provide better control and leadership of communities in the District. Greene said officials from both sections will keep a constant dialogue through daily communication and crime meetings twice a week.
“We don’t want two different philosophies,” Greene said. “We don’t want two different police departments as a result of this split.”
Foggy Bottom Association President Marina Streznewski said the meeting provided an opportunity for community members to understand the patrol services reorganization.
“I think that we may not notice as much of a difference here,” she said. “This is a fairly low crime area, but I think it’s good to know that if something serious did happen. I think we would be more likely to get a more coordinated response.”
She said the meeting allowed residents to ask questions about their main concerns for law enforcement, which included traffic safety and car thefts.
Traffic safety concerns
Across the District, the number of traffic fatalities this year has reached 19, compared to 13 at this time last year, MPD officials said at the meeting. Fatalities also rose to 28 total in 2016 from 21 in 2014.
While MPD can respond to traffic incidents if they are caught on camera or by an officer, Greene encouraged community members to report recurring traffic offenses to Melvin Gresham, the local police commander, to allow traffic enforcement to address chronic issues.
MPD Lt. Zenobia McBride said the department has received a number of complaints about the area around New Hampshire Avenue and Washington Circle.
“We have been doing daily enforcement across all shifts and again the enforcements are blatant,” McBride said. “Everyday constant, it doesn’t matter – rush hour or non-rush hour. We do have enough documentation so far to support additional enforcement measures there.”
She said the department’s automated traffic enforcement unit conducted a survey of the area this week and is in the process of determining whether a red light camera or speed enforcement would be necessary for the intersection.
Auto Theft
Motor vehicle thefts citywide totaled 1,353 total this year compared to 1,455 at the same time last year, police said. Greene said the department has plans to reduce car thefts but did not specify the plans during the meeting.
“This is an area where we have had challenges,” Greene said. “Although they are down, that’s a lot.”
Last month a suspect smashed into a car on 23rd Street near Amsterdam Hall and stole property – most of which the police recovered in bushes behind Shenkman Hall – according to an MPD report.
In June, police arrested a 15-year-old Southwest D.C. male for a carjacking on 23rd Street where three men pulled a car owner out of his parked vehicle after demanding his phone and keys, according to an MPD report.
“I think we should consider ourselves fortunate that we have very little violent crime, but we do have a lot of theft from auto,” Streznewski said.
Gresham said individuals can lessen the chances that they will be the victims of property crime with simple steps like purchasing lockers from Amazon to prevent packages from being stolen off porches.
“Certainly not leaving items in your vehicle would help with the theft from auto problem,” Gresham said.
