Originally uploaded to flickr by Cliff1066
The Hill is Home learned yesterday that after more than two years, Lt. Daniel Ewell will be handing over management of PSA 107 to the recently promoted Lt. David Thorton, who has served as a sergeant in patrol within the First District, and most recently the Internal Affairs Bureau. PSA 107 is the quadrant between 13th Street SE and East Capitol Street, extending to Anacostia River. Lt. Ewell and Lt. Thorton will attend the PSA 107 meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at Liberty Baptist Church, located at 527 Kentucky Avenue SE.
In response to news of the leadership change, Hill East resident, Amy Caspari, remarked, “Lt. Ewell was outstanding. He addressed many of the residents residents’ concerns, and made a special effort to curb youth crime during the summer. He helped get DPR to trim hedges in parks where criminals would hide drugs, or alcohol. He also went beyond fighting crime. He held community events with MPD, and got to know the families and the neighborhood children. He also had his officers make contact with the residents too. The rumor is that Lt. Thorton is also excellent. So we are looking forward to meeting him at the PSA meeting this evening!”
While many of the recent carjackings have occurred in PSA 103, north of Lincoln Park, Lt. Ewell has provided leadership and continuity around community policing in PSA 107 and hosted a meeting with the Carjacking Task Force in November, shortly after the trend began to develop. On January 17, another car was stolen by armed men on the 1400 block of E Street NE. Another incident occurred on the 300 block of 12th Street NE on January 15.
As promised at the December community meeting about the high incidence of armed carjackings on Capitol Hill, Councilmember Tommy Wells and ANC Commissioner Mary Beatty will co-host a follow up on Thursday, February 4th from 6:30 – 7:30 pm, at Options Public Charter School, at the corner of 14th and E Street, NE.
MPD 1 Commander David Kamperin said recently on the MPD-1D listserve that he is putting a priority on responding to calls about suspicious people in the area. Calls to 911 about suspicious persons will be given priority, regardless of how insignificant the situation may sound. “With recent events involving carjackings around the Northeast area of Capitol Hill we want to be sure these calls are process expeditiously and dispatched to the units in the area,” he said.
Dear Neighbor(s),
Information from the January 21, 2010 PSA 107 (Police Service Area) meeting follows.
1. ANC Will Hill hosted the meeting. Douglas Klein, Assistant US Attorney (1D Community Prosecutor) attended, as did Naomi Mitchell from Ward 6 council member Tommy Wells’ office (www.tommywells.org). By my count, 34 adults were in attendance.
2. Newly assigned MPD Lt. Thornton (michael.thornton@dc.gov cell 202.425.7659) listened to resident concerns and promised to follow up on several issues. He encouraged residents to call 911 when they witness something unsettling or suspicious. He said if anyone is treated poorly by a 911 operator or his police officers they should contact him. He also said that there were recent arrests for the robbery at Wisdom, an arrest for a robbery at McDonald’s and an arrest for possession of stolen property (the multiple burglaries in the 15th and K streets, SE area). All of those arrested were papered by the US Attorney’s Office. He is pleased with the progress made by Officer Martinez and his outreach to residents south of Pennsylvania Avenue and intends to replicate that effort north of Pennsylvania Avenue.
3. Lt. Thornton reminded that the burglaries have decreased due to community involvement and hopes that continues. He hopes we will ask for officers to do a security check of our homes and make suggestions to harden potential burglary or crime targets. Officers are seeing gps units, phones and other valuables left visibly in cars. Lt. Thornton will be meeting with residents on Friday evenings at 6 p.m. at the entrance of Harris Teeter for a community walk. All are invited to participate.
4. MPD was also represented at the meeting by Inspector Reese (michael.reese@dc.gov 202.439.007), the substation commander.
5. Lt. Ewell was thanked for his service to the PSA. A cake was served in his honor and he and Matt Caspari entertained with guitar and harmonica music.
6. See you at the next PSA 107 meeting at Liberty Baptist Church basement, 527 Kentucky Ave, SE on Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 7 p.m. The entrance is to the left as you face the building; the meeting is downstairs.
Best,
Jared Critchfield
15XX K Street, SE