CLARIFICATION OF PREVIOUS ITEM RE: POLICE

From: "eric" <emlebson@tdinternational.com>  (Eric Lebson)
Just a note of follow-up.  First, thank you for  including my comments
in today's update.  Second, after work on Monday (the day following the
incident we observed) I stopped at the 2nd District police headquarters
to see if they had found anything from the report I made to the 311
operator. They asked the patrol officer for our area to drop by my
home.  When he got there, he was very concerned and professional.  He
advised that he was amazed to hear from me because he had been on patrol
at night on 9/16 and had not received a dispatch call. Apparently, the
311 operator did not dispatch an officer as she told me she would. He
said that, even if you call 311, it is really important to clearly
advise the operator that you want an officer to be dispatched.

I just wanted to let people know that it was the operator who dropped
the ball, not the patrol officer.
 
 

HOW WE CAN BE BETTER CONSUMERS OF POLICE SERVICES

The above item and another incident discussed in the September 10 and 18
issues of COMMUNIT-E have impressed on me that there will always be some
communication glitches between the public and the police. These have
occurred as long as I have been working in public safety - about ten
years now. The system lends itself to these glitches because the call
goes from you (1) to the MPD call taker (2)  to the MPD dispatcher (3)
to the officer (4), with opportunity for misunderstandings at each
point.

The best way to deal with this, I believe, is the following:

1.) If you see a crime in progress, call 911.  Tell the police call
taker which direction the suspects are going, if they have fled the
scene. Ask for the police to be sent immediately.

2.) If they have left the scene but you still want to speak to a police
officer, ask the call taker to have an officer contact you.

3.) This is really important: If an officer has not contacted you either
by phone or in person in what you consider to be a reasonable time, call
back on 311 and explain that you have been waiting and the officer has
not contacted you. Ask the call taker to contact the dispatcher and ask
if an officer has been sent yet. If not, ask that he be sent and ask
when you can expect him. You may need to repeat this call one or more
time. If the crime is still in progress, call back on 911 and be very
insistent.
 

In other words, keep calling until you either get an officer or are told
what to expect. If you can't seem to get anywhere with the call taker,
then begin the process I mentioned in the September 18 COMMUNIT-E.  I'm
reprinting it below.

Squeaky gears do get grease and sometimes it's very important to be a
squeaky gear.  Frequent calls on a particular incident or calls from a
number of different people catch the attention of MPD call takers who
handle millions of calls a year. If your call seems routine or not very
urgent, it will not get the priority that a more urgent sounding call
will get.

If you are in real immediate danger, pull out all the stops and do
whatever you have to do or say to get police attention.

Each time you call on either 311 or 911, that call is recorded. That's
good to know in case you need to formally complain to the Chief Of
Police later, if things really break down.

To repeat from September 18 COMMUNIT-E:

Here are some ways to reach a police supervisor. I don't know which will
work best, but they all lead to the same place.

1.)  Call Police Communications (311) and say that you need to speak to
the "Second District Watch Commander" or other 2D official  about  a
police officer who just came to your house.  If the Communications call
taker is not responsive, ask to speak to a communications supervisor and
make the same request. If you still have difficulty, the Communications
Supervisor's number is 671-2872.

2.) Another approach is to call the 2D desk at 282-0070 and make the
same request. They may give you an additional number to call. There is
always a "Watch Commander" on duty at each District.

3.)  If these don't work, call, in this order: 282-0038 (for PSA
sergeant or lieutenant) or 282-0032 (captains), 282-0042 (2D
commander).  What you want to do is talk to a sergeant (or higher rank
if the sergeant can't be reached) to resolve your problem with the
responding officer, or to get someone to take your report.
 
 
 

STRANGERS AND STRANGE EVENTS IN THE 'HOOD

****From: "Carolyn Long" <carolynlong@earthlink.net>
Not everyone who is out taking photos is up to no good. The Tenleytown
Historical Society has begun its photo-documentation project in
Tenleytown and AU Park. If residents see several middle-aged ladies
taking pictures, it's just us. We are always happy to explain what we're
doing, and would certainly not answer that it's "none of your damned
business."

****From: "Anthoula P. Gianniotis" <apg@alphatecpc.com>
I live in AU Park and have also heard taps.  I have no idea where it's
coming from, but it sounds like it's coming from behind the Japanese
Embassy? or near the AU campus?

I also have a question regarding a man who is frequently present in our
neighborhood using a commercial broom and dustpan, used by municipal
personnel to clean parks, etc.  He sweeps our neighborhood, driveways,
streets and sidewalks.  He is a 35-40 year old black man, about 5'10,
160 lbs.  He wears relatively clean clothes with a bright orange safety
vest and waves the traffic through--sometimes with a smile and sometimes
slightly annoyed.  I have seen him on 42nd Street most mornings around
7:15am, and he was diligently working on Sunday morning (9/16) talking
politics to whomever he could.  He doesn't seem like a threat and I feel
compelled to give him something for his trouble, or offer him work, yet
this doesn't seem like a good idea, intuitively.  Is he with the city or
an independent? Does anyone know about this person?  Thanks.

****From: "Buddy Yingling" <RAY@usp.org>
Regarding the following: WHERE ARE THE BUGLES?
There is a navy installation near AU on Nebraska (next to Channel 4)
that has always played taps and reveille.  It used to be called the
Naval Security Station, but now I think it is Navy Telecommunications
Command or something like that.  Maybe you are hearing it better now
because there hasn't been as much airplane traffic for the last week.

**** From: "David Crane" <jeffanddavid@starpower.net>
I notice in this edition that the problems with prowlers and others
scouting out the alleys seem to be increasing.  They appear to be
looking for houses to break into during the day when many of us are at
work.  Do you know if the police are focused on this issue?  We once
were victimized by an attempted break-in about 18 months ago, but
haven't had any problems since.

The police said that mid-day is the most common time for such incidents.

****From: Richard Clark <biking2@yahoo.com>
How does one get the "meter maids" to respond? We have four new tenants
that moved into the 4500 block of Grant Road with out of state plates
and the park all day in a restricted "3 hour" zone.

ANSWER -- The resident expert on this problem is Christopher Lively at
nico626@aol.com. He and his father Jim have had some spectacular
successes in dealing with this problem. I suggest you contact him.

****From: MargClark@aol.com
I just noted the following message on the Cleveland Park listserv, which
I have cut and pasted into this message.  I don't know what further to
do with this crosscutting information; perhaps you will know.  Howard
Howell's e-mail address is hw.howells@verizon.net.

Perhaps my paranoia has been piqued by the events of  last week, in any
case, I thought that people in this newsgroup should be aware.

Last night at about 3:30 AM I awoke and looked out my bedroom window to
see a man with a flashlight walking out of my yard and into a waiting
car.  There was a person in the back seat of the car that also had a
flashlight that was holding what looked to be a city map.  The car drove
up about four houses (almost out of view) and the man got out, looked
around for 15-30 seconds, and got back in the car and continued up
Ordway toward 34th Street.

I am sorry to say that the entire event was so quick and I did not have
my glasses on so my description is a bit vague.  The man was African
American and of average height.  The car was older American large 4 door
sedan, may have been an Oldsmobile (looked kind of like a smaller
Cadillac), it was yellow.

I hope that if someone else sees similarly suspicious behavior that they
will be able to get more information. Horace Howells,  Ordway Street
 
 

FROM THE TENLEY CHILDREN'S LIBRARIAN
From: Rhona Campbell <campbellrx_2000@yahoo.com>
SUMMERQUEST 2001 PARTY RESCHEDULED.
The Tenley-Friendship Branch Library, DCPL, which cancelled the original
SummerQuest finale event due to national mourning, has rescheduled the
event for Thursday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m. The party will include a
ceremony celebrating the achievements of the kids who were "Buggy About
Reading" at the Tenley-Friendship Library this summer. Please call
(202)282-3094 for more information.
 
 

REVISED PHONE NUMBER FOR DC LIBRARIES
In case you were unaware, the libraries all have new numbers (new within
the past year or so). Here are a few for nearby branches:
Tenley-Friendship -- 282-3090
Chevy Chase -- 282-0193
Cleveland Park -- 282-3080
 
 
 

THE REAL SCOOP ON HEROES, INC
My name is Cherrie Wanner-Doggett.  I am the President of HEROES, Inc.
here in Washington, DC.  I have received copies of your COMMUNIT-E which
mentions HEROES, Inc. and I would like to give you the correct mailing
address for the organization.
Re:  HEROES, Inc.
      666 Eleventh Street, NW
      Suite 300
      Washington, DC 20001
      (202) 638-6658

      501C3  Fed. Tax. # 52-6057916
      DC  Charitable Registration #6-07-398

Our organization covers all law enforcement officers and firefighters
who die in the line of duty in the jurisdictions of Montgomery, Prince
George's, Arlington and Fairfax Counties; Alexandria  and Washington,
DC.  This includes all police and firemen, Secret Service, Secret
Service Uniformed Division, U.S. Marshals Service, Capitol Police, Metro
Transit Police, U.S. Park Police, Airport Police assigned to Reagan
National and Dulles, as well as State Troopers and Sheriff's Deputies.
Our estimate of officers covered under our umbrella numbers
approximately 70,000. Our website is located at www.HEROES.org and gives
detailed information on how to contact us and how we operate.

We are unique in that we have operated since 1964 with no paid staff, no
overhead and no administrative expenses.  We do not solicit funds.  We
have an annual golf tournament to raise money for our scholarship fund
and we participate in the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign.
With these exceptions all funds raised are through private donations and
all donations are used to benefit the families we serve.  We have had
over 150 young men and women graduate from college through the HEROES,
Inc. Scholarship Program.  These young men and women are the sons and
daughters of the HEROES listed on our Honor Roll.  We also provide
immediate assistance to the families when a tragedy occurs.

We are helping to formulate a plan for the distribution of funds for the
World Trade Center and Pentagon tragedies and while the manner in which
these funds will be distributed has not yet been established we know it
is vital the funds not be dissipated before they are distributed to the
families.  While there are many well meaning organizations we also know
that operating and advertising expenses can quickly become the largest
budget items.  Following the same guidelines which govern HEROES, Inc.
in the Metropolitan Washington area, that is, no paid staff, no overhead
and no administrative expenses, we have established the HEROES, Inc.
September Fund,  We will accept tax deductible donations made payable to
HEROES, Inc. September Fund with an assurance to the donor that all
donations, in their entirety,  will be distributed to families of
victims of the World Trade Center and Pentagon tragedies.
 
 

COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

****From: Lshneier@worldbank.org (Lesley Shneier)
I have used Terminix for years to deal with termites, and found them
very helpful and pleasant to deal with.  Feel free to mention my name as
a long term customer when dealing with them

****From: Robmayers@aol.com
Car for Sale: 86 Chevy Nova, 4-dr. sedan, blue.  automatic, a/c, radio .
New transmission, new radiator. Driven daily. Blue book value $1500.
Make offer.  202-966-2213 or email:  TheChevyChaser@aol.com.

****From: Petirrojo@aol.com
Looking for reliable and quality brick re-pointing as well as
roofers--any recommendations?
 
 

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LAST ANC3E MEETING

**** The ANC has put out the September issue of its own newsletter,
"Neighborhood Newsletter", which I will send out, as a separate mailing.
They are also asking for volunteers to deliver paper copies of  it in AU
Park, Tenleytown, and Friendship Heights. Call Polly King on 965-1048.

**** DPW has approved a traffic light for Nebraska and Chesapeake. This
was requested by students at Wilson High. The actual installation will
take about 9 months to a year.

****Mayor Williams is having a second Neighborhood Summit at the
Convention Center on Saturday, October 6. He obviously considered the
first, last year, to be very successful.

****There will be a DC Asthma Walk on September 30.

**** DPW will be  making street repairs to the following in 2002 / 2003:
-- Brandywine from 45th to Western
-- Ellicott from 48th to Western
-- Davenport from 44th to 45th
If you live on one of the affected blocks that does not have a sidewalk,
and would like a sidewalk to be installed at the time of repair, DPW
will do it provided the residents of that block request it. There must
be petition of residents on the block with 50% supporting a sidewalk.
The petition must be submitted by the end of September, 2001 to DPW.
For more information about this, contact Harbhajan Sandhu or Mulhammed
Khalid at DPW at 671-2248, or ANC Commissioner Chris McNamara at
cmcnamara@wbbinc.oc or mcnamrus@alo.com

****A proposal was made to ban parking on River Road from 46th St. to
Western (one block) because of the traffic bottleneck there.

**** A question was raised about a possible sexual assault around 48th &
Western. I called 2D and learned that if it happened, it was not on the
DC side. There might have been one on the Maryland side. Perhaps Chief
Roy Gordon, of Chevy Chase Village, would be so kind as to check on this
for us. I'll bring this to his attention, and let you know what he says.

****Roundtable Restaurant's liquor license was renewed despite the
protests from the neighbors. The Roundtable is basically operating a bar
on a restaurant license. The bar part closes at 2am on weekdays and 3am
on Friday & Saturday. The neighbors are raising money to hire legal
counsel. They are having a yard and bake sale on October 13 & 14 to
raise funds. Perhaps someone from Ellicott or Emery Pl. could let me
know who to contact for more information about this event. I should
stress that no one is complaining about the restaurant, but only about
the bar that stays open until 2 and 3 am and lets out with maximum noise
disruption to the neighbors.

**** Hechinger / Sears Site (last but by no means least) --  Madison
Retail is proposing to have it be mixed use retail and residences. This
means 3 to 4 retailers on the ground floor and parking in the basement,
and high end luxury apartments (150 - 200) on several floors added to
the building. There would also be parking on the roof for these
apartments. The historical aspects of the building would be preserved.
The residential lobby would be on Albemarle and the commercial on
Wisconsin and maybe River. They can't promise this, but they are trying
hard to have one of the retail stores be a small hardware store.
Personally, I think it looks really good, especially if they can get the
hardware store in there.
 
 

ONE ITEM OF INTEREST  FROM THE LAST MPD CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL
MEETING

Chief Ramsey said that, contrary to what was in the Washington Post, the
police were pretty well prepared for the September 11 disaster -- as
much as anyone could be under the circumstances. They relied heavily on
plans drawn up for the Y2K worst case scenario. Things were set in
motion after the second plane crashed into the World Trade Center.  The
CIA and FBI had representatives in the police Joint Command Center by
the time the Pentagon was hit.  Other federal and local jurisdictions
had representatives in there within the hour. This all helped to
eliminate the bogus from the real, such as the alleged car bomb at State
Department and the 41 bogus bomb threats and 77 suspicious package calls
that came in the first three days after the attack. It could have been
better, but it was better than was reported, he said.