WELCOME BACK CAPTAIN ANTHONY POTEAT
Lucky for us, Captain Poteat has returned to 2D and will again be the
Captain
for PSA 202, among several other PSA's. He can be reached on
282-0032 or at
Apoteat@aol.com. Many of us in the community have found him to be an
excellent source of help and information.
CONGRATULATIONS TO NEIGHBOR DAVID HAMLIN
For winning an Emmy for cinematography for a National Geographic film
on
Baffin island.
STOLEN UPPER NORTHWEST PROPERTY ON DISPLAY
SEPTEMBER 14
From: owner-d2@this-people.com
Last week detectives from the department's Second District
arrested two Northwest men in connection with burglaries
allegedly committed in the upper northwest area of the
Second District. During the execution of a search warrant of
a home in the 3800 block of Morrison Street, N.W. detectives
recovered various items possibly stolen during the
commission of the burglaries.
This week the Second District will host a viewing of the
recovered property. Citizens that have been burglarized over
the past few months in the upper northwest section of the
Second District are encouraged to attend the viewing. They
are asked to bring serial numbers and police reports or
report numbers for the stolen items.
DATE: THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2000
TIME: 5:00 P.M. TO 8:00 P.M.
LOCATION: SECOND DISTRICT COMMUNITY ROOM
3320 IDAHO AVENUE, N.W.
CONTACT: LT. TRIPPI
202/282-0043
ANC MEETINGS
Tomorrow, September 12, there will be a joint ANC3E and 3F meeting
on the
development at Nebraska and Albemarle. On Thursday, September 14,
ANC3E will
hold its regular meeting. One of the topics will be AU Students, and
David
Taylor of American University will be there.
For more details about these meetings, call 244-0800 or check the ANC3E
web
site at http://www.anc3e.org/.
NIGHT PAPERING / NIGHT COURT
While I was away for several weeks at the end of August, the issue of
night
papering/ night court was raised by Police Chief Ramsey, and stories
were
published in the Washington Post. Other jurisdictions seem to have
a sane
policy on how to handle late night arrests. In DC, we have a system
that is
so unwieldy that it's a wonder that any officer makes an arrest late
at night
or in the early morning hours. Imagine this -- an officer makes an
arrest and
does the paperwork and goes home. He or she may get home well after
midnight.
That officer, getting only a few hours of sleep, has to then get up
and go
down to Court to "paper" that arrest the next morning. Not only does
the
officer get very little sleep but we taxpayer are paying the officers
overtime to do this.
Chief Ramsey would like night papering and night court so that the arrests
can be dealt with when they occur. U.S. Attorney Wilma Lewis is not
in favor
of it at this time.
Surely someone can come up with a system that works better than this.
I
haven't studied the surrounding jurisdictions, but I understand that
they
handle arrests in ways that are much different, and eliminate this
problem.
Why can't we?
Beat 26 editor Kirsten Oldenberg writes that Chief Ramsey recently
told a
group of residents, at the 1D CAC meeting, "...about the system
in Chicago,
where a detective can make most of the decisions about whether an arrest
is a
good one or not and, if not, can then call an on-call States Attorney
(day or
night) to get advice on the case."
I invite anyone who has something to add to this, either with an opinion
or
additional information, to weigh in. I'm trying to figure out why we
have to
do it the way we've been doing it rather than take a more rational
approach
that would save time, wear and tear on exhausted officers, and buku
bucks
from us taxpayers.
WARNING ABOUT DC ANIMAL CONTROL
From: 76646.1100@compuserve.com (Thomas)
Please advise readers NOT to call DC Animal Control if they should find
a
stray cat or dog -- better to take the animal in, if possible, or tend
to
it outdoors, and then post signs in the area. Our cat wandered
away
recently. A well-meaning neighbor called DC Animal Control, who
retrieved
the cat and then put it to death almost immediately, rather than keeping
it
for the required five-day period. They denied the error until
a supervisor
was pressed hard, making a sad incident worse.
QUESTION: IS GEORGETOWN DAY SCHOOL PLANNING TO BUILD SOMETHING ON ITS
GROUNDS?
From: A resident who asked to remain anonymous.
About 1 week ago, I saw a man in a suit standing at the corner of River
Rd.
and Davenport St., looking intensely at "sight lines" from the various
corners of the intersection up towards the West/southwest. I
went outside
and asked him if I could be of assistance. He said no.
I asked if I could ask what he was doing and he politely gave an answer
of
"no." Obviously, he was surveying some physical element of the
streetscape
and building sight lines. I asked if he was a realtor and he
said
"something like that, I'm not the IRS or anything."
I AM FAIRLY CONVINCED that the school near the Safeway, which recently
bulldozed its football/soccer field, is planning a major real estate
development on the former site of their field/park. It may be
a school
building or a commercial development, but it is highly likely in this
market to be high density and will extend along the west side of River
Rd.
from the bottom of the hill at Davenport half way up the hill to the
former
Hechinger's.
Is this project publically known at this time or is it publicity
pre-natal? My guess from his responses is the latter.
THE LATEST PSA 202 NEWSLETTER FROM LT. MARK CARTER
The following is the newsletter by Lt. Mark Carter:
P.S.A NEWSLETTER
PATROL SERVICE AREA 202
FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS / TENLEYTOWN / AMERICAN UNIVERSITY PARK
Lt. Mark V. Carter Sr.
Sgt. Rick Davis
Sgt. Bobby Ladson
August 2000 Crime Stats
Month August '99 August '00
+/_
Robberies 1
3
+2
Assaults 1
2
+1
Burglaries 8
13
+5
Thefts
16 27
+11
Theft from Auto 32 23
-9
Stolen Autos 6
5
-1
There has been an increase in burglaries in the area. Listed below are
checklist items that are designed to help decrease the likelihood that
you or
your home is targeted.
Exterior Doors
q All doors are locked at night and every time we leave the house-even
if it's
just for a few minutes.
q Doors and doorframes are hardwood or metal-clad.
q Spare keys are kept with a trusted neighbor, not under a doormat
or planter,
on a ledge, or in the mailbox.
Garage and Sliding Door Security
q The door and door frame leading from the attached garage to the house
is
solid wood or metal-clad and protected with quality keyed door lock
and
deadbolt.
q A dowel or a pin to secure a glass door has been installed to prevent
the
door from being shoved aside or lifted off of the track.
Protecting Windows
q Windows are always locked, even when they are opened a few inches
for
ventilation.
Outdoor Security
q Shrubs and bushes are trimmed so there is no place for someone to
hide.
q There are no dark areas around your house, garage, or yard at night
that
would hide prowlers.
q Every outside door has a bright, working light to illuminate visitors.
q Outdoor lights are on in the evening-whether someone is at home or
not or a
photocell or motion-sensitive lighting system has been installed.
q House numbers are clearly displayed so police and other emergency
vehicles
can find the house quickly.
Security When Away from Home
q Mail and newspaper deliveries have been stopped or arrangements for
a
neighbor/friend to pick them up when you go away for a period of time.
q A neighbor has been asked to tend the yard and watch your home when
you are
away.
q At least two light timers have been set to turn the lights on and
off in a
logical sequence, when we are away from home for an extended time period.
Outdoor Valuables and Personal Property
q Valuable items, such as television, stereos, and computers have been
inscribed with identifying number approved by local police.
q Your home inventory is up-to-date and includes pictures. A
complete copy is
kept somewhere out of the house.
q Gate latches, garage doors, and shed doors are locked with high-security,
laminated padlocks.