Originally uploaded to flickr by JGregor
Despite Mother Nature’s well played attempt to derail our conversation, I caught up with Lieutenant Michael Thornton of PSA 107 for a Capitol Hill crime status report earlier this week. Special thanks in advance to the Lieutenant for donating his time to The Hill is Home.
Towards the end of last year, there seemed to be an uptick in crime on the Hill. Is there anything specific you can attribute this to?
“Burglaries tend to be seasonal. We did have an increase in crime in October, 14 burglaries, compared to 10 in September. We take these incidents very seriously and know that residents work hard to have their homes, and that they do not feel safe, and in fact feel very violated when these incidents occur.”
Are there specific areas of the Hill that seem to be targeted?
Most residents are aware of the incident that occurred outside the Harris Teeter recently, and when something of that magnitude happens, the MPD responds with an “increased police presence and “monitors the area even more closely.” If your home backs up to an alley, Lt. Thornton and the MPD recommend motion detector lights, “that way, at least the person knows that every time they walk by, that light is going to come on and call attention.”
What are some of the things MPD is doing to combat crime?
“If officers see someone suspicious or exhibiting questionable behavior, we’ll stop them and talk to them. We work very closely with detectives to monitor people who have been previously arrested, people who have records, to see what they are up to now, what they are doing. If we receive fingerprints from a burglary crime scene we compare them.”
“Patrol officers are also talking to neighbors and knocking on doors, asking residents if they’d like a security survey of their home.” Lt. Thornton says monthly newsletters advertising ANC and PSA meeting dates as well as a home contents inventory list are things that have helped the department make huge strides. The list is brought to meetings and burglary victims are encouraged to add serial numbers of stolen items so police have information to refer to when they recover valuables.
Over the holidays, Lt. Thornton put his direct email on newsletters, and asked people to get in touch when they were going to be out of town. Residents who did this had their homes “placed on special attention” under the extra supervision of their area’s PSA team.
What should residents do if they see suspicious activity?
“If you observe anything that makes you uncomfortable, call 911 immediately.” When you get that internal gut feeling about someone or a situation, go with your instincts. Its much better to call and have it turn out to be nothing than not call and have something happen.
What can people do to feel confident they’re doing all they can to stay safe?
Most people on the Hill have street parking, so right off the bat there are the obvious thefts related to things “inside cars, especially GPS devices.” Bicycle thefts are also something to watch out for. A good bike lock and car alarm are necessities. Inside the home a “reliable alarm system is recommended. Bars on back doors especially are another way to ensure no one kicks your door in.”
If you observe someone you don’t recognize spending extra time walking the streets in your neighborhood or a person “who looks like they are casing houses” call the police. Lt. Thornton pointed out that even if a street appears well lit, there are dark spots provided by trees where someone can hide. “Walk confidently” in the direction of your destination, “do not be on your cell phone or otherwise occupied and keep your head up.” Some Hill neighborhoods are bringing back community walks and watch projects, which are great because “everyone is looking out for one another.”
The year closed with a decrease in crime and Lt. Thornton extends his thanks to all the residents he’s worked with, adding that “the community plays a huge part” in making the Hill a great place to live. And it is a wonderful place to live, despite the tone of this post, from which I have learned that the subject matter is a difficult one to write about with a dazzling amount of optimism.
For emergencies, all residents are reminded to always dial 911. The next PSA 107 meeting with Lt. Thornton will take place Thursday, February 17th at 7pm at the Liberty Baptist Church located at 527 Kentucky Ave SE.
I just wonder why we can’t seem to get cops out of cars and walking a “beat” again. It might also help to reduce many of the expanding waistlines I see on this force.
I personally have never had anyone from the MPD knock on my door to proactively introduce themselves. (I live near 1oth and C NE) From my viewpoint, this is a “reactionary” department. When crime hits an area they show up with an increased vigilance and the bad guys go elsewhere.
The constant theme of this article is what WE all need to do. How about MPD get back to community based policing and remove just a bit of the onus from the citizen.
Just my two cents.
PS My basis for frustration is 3 car break-ins in 5 years, a mugging recently a half block away and a car-jacking 3 blocks away last year.
Mike,
I actually saw an officer standing on the corner of 13th & Duncan St NE last evening! I agree that it happens way too rarely, but their visibility in the neighborhood has improved since the car jackings last year.
Mike,
snarky remarks about police officers’ weight are unnecessary (not to mention juvenile).
Second, there is a great deal we as citizens can do to cut down on crime, as Lt. Thorton helpfully pointed out. Don’t leave valuables in plain sight in your car. Get a house alarm. Given that there will always be limited resources, we all have to pitch in.
Third, yes, much police work is reactive, but that’s the nature of the profession. (No one calls 911 to report their car has not been broken into.) The same with fire departments, medicine, and countless other professions.
Best,
Dan
i’d much rather see bike patrols than foot patrols. being on foot looks great, but it doesn’t allow the cops to cover much of the area.
oh, while it’s been a couple of years, i’ve had cops knock on my door and introduce themselves. that should be an on-going thing!
Dan,
First, I have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for everyone who puts on a uniform and put’s their life on the line to protect my family. I agree there is a lot we citizens can do about crime. I’ve done my share, trust me. However, as the son of a police officer that rose up in the ranks to become Deputy Chief of Police in a major metropolitan area, I can tell you from discussions with him, getting out of your car and becoming visible to your community one-on-one is one of the best ways to PREVENT crime. I hope Sebastian is correct in his observations. I ‘d love to have a member of the MPD knock on my door one night and introduce themselves.
Second, my remarks about the weight may seem “snarky”, however, this profession requires an incredible amount of physical agility and stamina. I don’t think that commenting on what I perceive as an issue of weight is out of line when that issue is a critical component of an officer’s job performance.
Finally, you miss the point about being “reactionary”. Of course the police “react” when a crime is committed. Successful crime deterrence starts with proactive police techniques so as to PREVENT the crimes from happening in the first place. In addition, in a city that does everything it can to forbid me from exercising my Constitutional right to own and bear a firearm, I expect them to work a little bit harder to protect me and my family since I’m not allowed to do it myself.
The good news is that you and I both share a desire to help make our community safer and for it to be the best it can be. We may just agree to disagree on how we do it.
Mike
I gather you did not see BJ Raji’s interception touchdown.
Dan
Dan,
Okay, you win. That was some funny s**t. I almost laughed my rum and diet coke out my nose. Hope to buy you a beer some day and we can continue our discourse.
Mike