Public Safety Meeting, Block Captains, Robberies, and Chief coming to Dupont

 

 

1)     Reminder: Dupont Public Safety Meeting

Dupont Public Safety Meeting/PSA 208 is Tuesday December 18th at 7pm at the 3^rd District Metropolitan Police Dept Headquarters at 1620 V Street. (Held on the 3^rd Tuesdays for Dupont and Kalorama-Sheridan issues and still in the 3D building even though our police work out of 2D.) Our community depends on good communications to and from our police. This is a roundtable meeting where we problem-solve. Bring an issue – no matter how minor. Or email me or our lieutenants to submit items for discussion.

 

2)     Wanted:  Block Captains

To boost crime prevention in our patrol area, a Neighborhood Network is being organized to establish a two-way communication tree between Dupont residents and 2^nd District Headquarters. These neighborhood watch groups are more popular in the 2^nd District than in the 3^rd District that we just left.  And as residents, we must do more to be aware of information about crimes and crime sprees in a timely manner. We also would do well by making our police more aware of our issues.

 

The aim is to have a Block Captain on every block and in every apartment building in PSA 208. The task of a Block Captain is to be in communication with as many people as possible on your block or in your apartment building and to know who might need help in an evacuation in a fire or other emergency. Block Captains will be kept informed by Lt. Scott Dignan and through the Neighborhood Network Coordinator, Sol Levine.  For information flow in the other direction, residents should contact their Block Captain when they see something suspicious or have a concern.

 

The more information that is shared, the less likely you will become a victim of a crime. Of course, call 911/311 if you see something going on. Our MPD leadership can push staffing into areas where it is most needed by getting this intelligence. There are plenty of police in our PSA - good men and women dedicated to preventing and responding to crime. They are reaching out to get to know us. The Neighborhood Network is our end of the bargain and for our own well-being.

 

Block Captains will be trained by Samantha Nolan, who has established hundreds of neighborhood watch operations in her career.  There are some things we can do right off the bat. The training schedule with Samantha will be established as we have enough volunteers to get started.

 

If you are interested in being a block captain, please attend meeting above or respond to Sol Levine by e-mail: Neighborhood.Network.208@Gmail.com

 

3)     Robberies There have been more gun robberies of people walking Dupont at night than usual. Statistics for robbery are up. There’s only so much you can do to combat this besides being aware, travelling in groups when possible, and calling 311 when you see someone suspicious.  All police calls for service will shortly be requested to go to 911, but for now call 311 if a crime is not in progress.

 

4)     The Dupont Circle Citizens Association is having MPD Chief Lanier and NPS Captain Neider to our January 7^th meeting at 7:30. In truth we  may get more people at that meeting to see the building where we’re holding it. The interior of the Belmont Mansion at 18^th, New Hampshire, and R Streets is worth getting yourself out on a cold January evening to see. http://www.dupont-circle.com/calendar.html

 

 

 

 

 

Rob Halligan

202 319 1313

 

Sorry, if you get similar info from Sol and from Matt.