Crime: D.C.’s ‘Real-Time Crime Center’, CAG’s Public Safety Efforts, Local Reports
By • December 11, 2023 One Comment 774
Yes, crime is up. But, so are public safety efforts.
From the Office of the Mayor, to Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto’s headquarters, to the Citizens Association of Georgetown, civilian crime-fighting efforts in the city and in Georgetown are ramping up. But, as police respond to spiking rates of homicides and carjackings across the nation’s capital, will such efforts prove effective?
In what appears to be a crime-fighting dream come true, Mayor Bowser and MPD Police Chief Pamela A. Smith announced on Dec. 7 the launching of MPD’s new Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC), a dedicated space to be staffed 24/7 by “local, regional, and federal law enforcement agencies to monitor and respond to criminal activities in real time.” Nine different agencies will partner and collaborate with MPD to “monitor and analyze data from various sources, including CCTV cameras, emergency calls, and other technology,” the Office of the Mayor said in a press release. The partnering agencies include: Amtrak Police, Arlington County Police, U.S. Capitol Police, Fairfax County Police, Metro Transit Police, Montgomery County Police, U.S. Park Police, Prince George’s County Police, and the U.S. Secret Service Uniform Division. The DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) and the DC Housing Authority Police Department (DCHAPD) will also support the RTCC, along with federal investigative partners at the ATF, FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service.
“The RTCC will serve as the nerve center for law enforcement in the District and throughout the region to collect and analyze data, to enhance situational awareness, and facilitate quick decision-making regarding crimes,” MPD Chief Smith said. “The RTCC will also improve the overall efficiency of crime prevention and response efforts with law enforcement partners by leveraging their expertise and allowing more information to be shared – in real time – across jurisdictional boundaries.”
“We are very focused on sending a clear message that if you engage in criminal activity in our city – if you harm people, threaten people, or make our communities less safe – you will be held accountable. The Real-Time Crime Center is part of that focused effort,” Bowser said.
“The Real-Time Crime Center represents a step forward for the Metropolitan Police Department in an effort to reduce crime and hold offenders accountable for their actions,” Smith said. “We know that crime in our region is not limited to jurisdictional boundaries and sometimes, those committing crimes use that to their advantage. The RTCC will allow us to leverage our multi-agency partnerships to address crime trends throughout our communities.”
D.C. officials said the center would “access information from city cameras, emergency calls, ShotSpotter, which detects the sound of gunfire, and other technology,” reported the Washington Post, adding, “D.C. police Chief Pamela A. Smith said artificial intelligence and facial recognition would not be used.” Given privacy and surveillance worries, however, the American Civil Liberties Union of D.C. “immediately raised concerns about how authorities might respond to what they see on video and whether it could lead to anyone being illegally targeted.”
Did you say surveillance? The D.C. government is also launching a program to provide residents in certain jurisdictions with Airtags and bluetooth technology to combat carjackings and pricey winter coat thefts. See this iMore story by Terry Sullivan here.
Ward 2 Council Member Pinto and Citizens Association of Georgetown Working to Promote Public Safety
In its Dec. 2 Public Safety Newsletter, the Citizens Association of Georgetown (CAG), published a message from Ward 2 Council member Brooke Pinto in favor of Pinto’s Secure DC plan – a public safety legislative package CAG fully supports. Pinto wrote:
“As the Ward 2 Councilmember and Chairwoman of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, I am focused every day on reducing the unacceptable levels of crime and violence we are experiencing in the District. That’s why on the first day of the Council’s fall legislative session, I shared my Secure DC Plan to improve public safety for all residents in DC. Secure DC is a comprehensive package of bills, interventions, and initiatives to:
- Prevent crime and end cycles of violence by investing in our public spaces and creating job training programs to reduce recidivism.
- Ensure perpetrators of violent crime are held accountable by creating a presumption for pretrial detention for crimes of violence, expanding the charges for tracking and use of firearms to enhance our capacity to prosecute violent crimes, improving tools our prosecutors have to bring and close cases successfully, and;
- Increase government supports and oversight to facilitate reliable and effective response to resident needs, among other targeted initiatives and strategies.
CAG representatives also testified before the D.C. Council in favor of the first pillar of Pinto’s Secure DC plan, the “Addressing Crime through Targeted Interventions and Violence Enforcement (ACTIVE) Act of 2023.”
Speaking of pillars, CAG’s ongoing public safety strategy follows a three-pillared framework entitled “The Pillars of Georgetown Public Safety: A Data-Driven Approach.” The pillars are: First, Community Engagement – with neighbors, MPD, the block captains program, and coordination/outreach to the Georgetown BID, ANC and Georgetown University. Second: Overt Security Measures – including establishing a security presence, promoting and supporting surveillance camera usage, enhanced lighting and signage. And, Third: Civic Awareness – including keeping the neighborhood informed of “municipal and federal decisions related to public safety,” and identifying “ways for residents to have their voices heard.”
For the holiday season, CAG is also offering the following safety tips:
- Turn off tree lights, decorations, and portable space heaters when away or asleep;
- Travel safely and don’t overshare your absence from home on social media;
- Choose a fire-resistant artificial tree and be sure to water a natural tree daily;
- Set up notifications to track your packages in order to thwart potential porch pirates;
- Never leave a burning candle unattended;
- Set porch lights to turn on earlier or install lights with automatic sensors;
- Ensure cameras can capture shots at eye level so suspects with caps can be identified.
For more on CAG’s public safety programs, go here.
MPD’s Data-at-a-Glance: Carjackings Skyrocketing in City and in Georgetown
In MPD’s Dec. 10 year-to-date reporting for “Carjackings (Total)” in Washington, D.C., the numbers don’t lie. Compared to this time last year, carjackings rose from 96 to 151. And in Ward 2 over the last 30 days , the carjackings increased by 150 percent. Since last year in Ward 2, carjackings syrocketed 144 percent from 18 to 44.
This screenshot from MPD’s Data-at-a-Glance site, captures just how much the carjacking epidemic in the District is a juvenile crime problem. Notice that 15 year-olds have the most pronounced numbers on the bar graph when it comes to year-to-date “Arrestee Age Distribution:”
Local Reports
On Dec. 8, at 9:21 p.m., Alert DC reported a “robbery investigation” at Exxon gas station in the 1600 block of Wisconsin Ave. NW.
A robbery investigation is underway, stemming from an incident at the Exxon gas station at 1601 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Google Map photo.
On the same day, MPD announced arrests in recent car thefts in Northwest, including:
Saturday, December 2, 2023
- 43-year-old Caroll Fletcher, of Southeast, D.C., was arrested for an Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle offense that occurred in the unit block of Florida Avenue, Northwest.
Sunday, December 3, 2023
- A 16-year-old juvenile male, of Northwest, D.C., was arrested for an Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle offense that occurred in the 1300 block of North Capitol Street, Northwest.
Wednesday, December 6, 2023
- 20-year-old Deangelo Jones, of Southeast, D.C., was arrested for an Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle offense that occurred in the unit block of O Street, Northwest.
- 20-year-old Brianna McBroom, of Northwest, D.C., was arrested for an Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle offense that occurred in the unit block of Forrester Street, Northwest.
On Dec. 8, MPD release its “Weekly Firearm Recoveries” for Nov. 27 through Dec. 4., reporting 62 firearms taken off the streets of the District.
On Dec. 6, detectives from MPD’s Homicide Branch announced the arrest of two men for the “August triple homicide that occurred in Northwest D.C.” On Aug. 5, at “approximately 1:01 a.m.,” Third District officers responded to the 2500 block of Ontario Road, Northwest, for the report of a shooting,” an MPD press release said. “Upon arrival, officers located three men with gunshot wound injuries. Two of the victims died at the scene. They were identified as 34-year-old James Morgan and 30-year-old Jamal Morgan, both of Southeast, D.C. The remaining victim was transported to an area hospital where he died on Monday, August 7, 2023. He was identified as 42-year-old Vincent Martin, of Southeast, D.C. On Tuesday, Dec. 5, pursuant to DC Superior Court arrest warrants, members of the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) located and arrested 37-year-old Renza Bryant, of Northwest, D.C., and 34-year-old Jalonte Thompkins, of Northeast, D.C., in Fort Washington, Maryland. The pair waived their right to an extradition hearing and were transported to MPD’s Homicide Branch, where they were charged with First Degree Murder while Armed.”
On Dec. 6, detectives from MPD’s Homicide Branch announced the “arrest of a juvenile in an October 2023 shooting that killed a man.” On Dec. 5, Fairfax County Police “located and arrested 16-year-old Ashton Inabinet, of Alexandria, pursuant to a DC Superior Court arrest warrant for the shooting death of 24-year-old Diamonte Lewis, of Southeast, D.C.,” according to an MPD press release. “He waived his right to an extradition hearing and was transported to MPD’s Homicide Branch, where he was charged as an adult with Second Degree Murder while Armed. On Saturday, Oct. 21, at approximately 3:38 a.m., Third District officers responded to the 900 block of U Street, Northwest, for the report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers located Lewis with gunshot wound injuries. He died at the scene.”
On Dec. 6, detectives from MPD’s Third District requested public assistance in “identifying a suspect in reference to an Assault with a Dangerous Weapon offense that occurred in Northwest.” On Nov. 21, at “approximately 3:37 p.m., ” the suspects “approached the victim in the 1900 block of 10th Street, Northwest,” an MPD press release said. “The suspects assaulted the victim and took their property then fled the scene. After the robbery, the victim realized they had been stabbed. The victim was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The suspects were captured by surveillance cameras and can be seen in this video: https://youtu.be/r8TtAfPNg3c.”
On Dec. 5, detectives from MPD’s Carjacking Task Force requested public assistance in “identifying the suspects in an unarmed carjacking that occurred in the 1300 block of T Street, Northwest.” On November 19, at “approximately 8:06 p.m.,” three suspects “approached the victim who was walking away from their vehicle. The suspects took the victim’s purse, took out the vehicle keys, and then fled in the victim’s vehicle. The suspects are pictured below:”
On Dec. 4, detectives from MPD’s Fourth District requested public assistance in “identifying a suspect in reference to an Assault with a Dangerous Weapon offense in Northwest.” On Dec. 1, at “approximately 6:20 a.m., the suspect approached the victim in the 1400 block of Otis Place, Northwest,” an MPD press release said. “The suspect brandished a handgun and pointed it at the victim. The victim fled the scene. The suspect was captured by a surveillance camera and can be seen in this video: https://youtu.be/I53zwQdjKa4.
On Dec. 4, detectives from MPD’s Fourth District announced a man has been arrested for “armed robberies that occurred in Northwest D.C.” In each of the below offenses, an MPD press release said, the “suspect approached the victim(s) at the listed location. The suspect brandished a handgun and took property from the victim(s) [and] fled the scene.”
Armed Robbery (Gun)
- On Thursday, November 9, 2023, at approximately 5:15 a.m., in the 1600 block of Columbia Road, Northwest.
Armed Robbery (Gun) of an Establishment
- On Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, at approximately 10:08 a.m., in the unit block of Dupont Circle, Northwest.
- On Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, at approximately 1:53 a.m., in the 1900 block of Wyoming Avenue, Northwest.
- On Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, at approximately 1:43 p.m., in the 3600 block of Georgia Avenue, Northwest.
On Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, 57 -year-old Michael Lomax, of Southeast, D.C. was arrested and charged with the above offenses.
“D.C. police Chief Pamela A. Smith said artificial intelligence and facial recognition would not be used.” Given privacy and surveillance worries, however, the American Civil Liberties Union of D.C. “immediately raised concerns about how authorities might respond to what they see on video and whether it could lead to anyone being illegally targeted.”
Why NOT? And how is recognizing someone illegal? The military has my and every recent service members DNA and that means the FBI has placed it in their CODIS criminal matching database without asking and it can be used. Same with fingerprints. How can matching someone with a photo from driver’s license or mugshot different?? And what is wrong with using AI to ID people who committed a crime? It is way more accurate than eyewitnesses. We are not talking about arresting people before they commit a crime like some SciFi story — but after. ACLU is pretty much a lobby fom criminals at this point. They have strayed way outside their lane.