Javascript DHTML Drop Down Menu Powered by dhtml-menu-builder.com

Neighborhood Watch Update

Neighborhood Watch is still growing!  The ranks of NW now include over 200 households (more individual members)! The need for watchfulness is still apparent, however, as we’ve recently had incidents, including burglary and robbery at gunpoint, within our community. While we can’t prevent every crime, we can lessen the chances of their happening. Please use this form to sign up now – don’t let it sink to the bottom of your to-do-pile! Contact Sharon Durland with any questions or concerns at sharonelise@gmail.com.

A number of people have asked, “What is the difference between calling 911 and calling 410-268-4141.” Here are some guidelines:

911 is easy to remember, especially during an emergency or stressful situation. The Anne Arundel County call taker will stay on the line with you until the APD dispatcher answers. If you are disconnected before you speak with the APD dispatcher, AACO will relay to APD anything you have said before you were disconnected. The 911 number should be used in an emergency only. Complaints, such as parking, blocked driveways, panhandler calls, or thefts that occurred earlier should not be made on 911.

Calling 410-268 4141 will get you straight to an APD dispatcher. If you think you would have the time to call the 4141 number and would be able to give your reason for a call and location during a stressful time, this would be the number to call. Just remember that your location does not come up, so you will be asked a few more questions about where you are. Calling 410-268-4141 does diminish the chance of being disconnected during the transfer from AACO. All types of calls can be called into 4141: Complaints about parking etc., serious events, suspicious behavior. All calls made to 410-268 4141 are anonymous if you choose so. Your name and location is not displayed to the dispatcher when you call this number.

ECA Public Safety Task Force

August Update

ICMA Report & Recommendations

On July 21, 2008, Leonard Matarese and David Martin, consultants from the International City Managers’ Association (ICMA), concluded their presentation on the ICMA’s study of the Annapolis Police Department. The PowerPoint slides to accompany the ICMA presentation as well as Chief Pristoop’s responses can be viewed and downloaded at www.annapolis.gov.

The ICMA’s recommendations in brief form plus many charts, maps and observations of problem areas are on these slides. At the June 16th City Council Workshop on the ICMA report, Chief Pristoop provided preliminary comments on each of the ICMA recommendations which he reiterated at the July 21st workshop, noting that some of the recommendations are already in place: foot patrols have begun in public housing as well as the creation of a thirteen-member flex team to specialize in public housing, recruiting has been taken over by Human Resources and accelerated, and the detective division has been moved back into the police station. 

Permanent Police Chief

In line with another of the ICMA recommendations, that the City hire a permanent police chief as soon as possible, Michael Pristoop was made the permanent Chief of Police by the City Council on July 28, 2008, amid great expectations for positive changes to come under his leadership at the Annapolis PD.t.

ECA Board Member Appointed to Safe Streets Coalition

Charles Worrell, as recommended by the ECA Board, was appointed as the Mayor’s Representative to the Capital City Safe Streets Coalition that has begun meeting regularly.  Charles is one of three citizen representatives; the other two are: Jim Turner, City Council Representative;, and Don Lamb-Minor, District 30 Representative. The ECA greatly appreciates Charles’ service in this important role. 

Notes from Charles’ report from the June Capital Safe Streets Coalition meeting

• House Bill 1550 is a piece of state legislation that authorizes the Department of General Services police to exercise police powers in parts of the City adjacent to the State Capital grounds. It has been signed into law, but the memorandum of understanding is still in routing for signatures. In the interim, the DGS police and APD (Annapolis Police Dept.) have already begun coordinating enforcement actions.

• The Housing Authority (HACA) and APD are in the final stages of completing their memorandum of understanding that will allow APD officers to act as agents of HACA while patrolling HACA properties. The most visible result of this will be that APD will no longer need a HACA official to apprehend a person who has been banned from HACA property for trespassing.

• APD has been conducting joint enforcement activities with Anne Arundel Cty Police, as well as State Police; there will be more of these joint activities forthcoming. APD has also been working with the County Sheriff’s department to increase the timeframes each week in which outstanding warrants are being served.

• APD is bringing new systems online that will allow more timely mapping of crime reports in order to adjust patrol assignments in response; as well as to provide electronic notification to other agencies when people of interest are arrested (Parole & Probation, Juvenile Services, States Attorney’s).

New Street Lights

A recent check revealed that only some of the original list of new street lights agreed upon by representatives of the City and the ECA have been installed. BGE has contacted ECA and within the month will be adding the remaining ten lights requested in the original ECA survey.”

Please send comments or questions to vicepres@eastportcivic.org. Have a safe summer!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

July 2, 2008 Update

ICMA Report & Recommendations

On June 16, 2008, Leonard Matarese, the International City Managers’ Association (ICMA) Public Safety Services Director, began a public presentation on the ICMA’s study of the Annapolis Police Department. Time did not allow for the full presentation, which has been rescheduled for Monday, July 21, 2008, at 7 p.m. (new date & time) in the City Council chamber. The public is invited and encouraged to participate. Watch this website and for emails from Alderman Arnett to confirm the date and time of this important presentation of interest to all concerned about crime in Annapolis. The Powerpoint slides to accompany the ICMA presentation can be viewed and downloaded at: http://www.annapolis.gov/upload/images/news/PoliceReport.pdf

The ICMA’s recommendations in brief form plus many charts, maps and observations of problem areas are in these slides, but it is expected that Mr. Matarese’s presentation on July 19 will provide context and a better understanding of the findings summarized in the slides. At the June 16th City Council Workshop on the ICMA report, the APD Chief, Michael Pristoop, provided preliminary comments on each of the ICMA recommendations. The Chief generally agreed with most of the ICMA recommendations. His written comments are not yet available online. Hopefully the Chief’s response will be presented in full at the July 19th public presentation. The next step seems to be for the ICMA and the Chief to develop a plan to implement of the specific changes needed. After the ICMA presentation, a meeting of the ECA Safety Task Force will be convened to discuss the recommendations, the City’s response and plans for implementation, and what role the ECA Safety Task force should play going forward. Stay tuned for notice of this meeting when it is scheduled.

ECA Board Member Appointed to Safe Streets Coalition

Charles Worrell, as recommended by the ECA Board, was appointed as the Mayor’s Representative to the Capital City Safe Streets Coalition that has begun meeting regularly. Charles is one of three citizen representatives; the other two are: Jim Turner, City Council Representative, and Don Lamb-Minor, District 30 Representative. The ECA greatly appreciates Charles’ service in this important role. The following is from Charles’ report from the June 25 monthly Coalition meeting:

• House Bill 1550 is a piece of state legislation that authorizes the Department of General Services police to exercise police powers in parts of the City adjacent to the State Capital grounds. It has been signed into law, but the memorandum of understanding is still in routing for signatures. In the interim, the DGS police and APD have already begun coordinating enforcement actions.
• HACA and APD are in the final stages of completing their memorandum of understanding that will allow APD officers to act as agents of HACA while patrolling HACA properties. The most visible result of this will be that APD will no longer need a HACA official to apprehend a person who has been banned from HACA property for trespassing.
• APD has been conducting joint enforcement activities with Anne Arundel County Police, as well as State Police; there will be more of these joint activities forthcoming. APD has also been working with the County Sherriff’s department to increase the timeframes each week in which outstanding warrants are being served.
• APD is bringing new systems online that will allow more timely mapping of crime reports in order to adjust patrol assignments in response; as well as to provide electronic notification to other agencies when people of interest are arrested (Parole & Probation, Juvenile Services, State's Attorney).

Eastport Community Unity Coalition

Beginning in April 2008, several local churches plus members of the ECA and the Annapolitans United Against Crime began forming a partnership with the Eastport Terrace and Harbour House communities to explore ways to support a united sense of community. In May this group began hosting a Family Night every Wednesday evening at the Eastport Community Center on President Street. The ECA Board has agreed to share the responsibility for organizing a Family Night dinner once a month with Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, Eastport United Methodist Church, and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, with each of the organizations rotating as the lead organizer.

Update: Dinners are now held on the fourth Thursday of each month

Volunteers who want to help with these Family Nights or who want to participate in other programs that are under development please contact either Lee Finney, leefinney@verizon.net, or Jane Lawrence, jwlawrence2@verizon.net.

New Street Lights

A recent check revealed that only some of the original list of new street lights agreed upon by representatives of the City and the ECA have been installed. The City had reported that BGE committed to complete these installations in May 2008 but as of June 30, there were eight identified poles without a light. The ECA has requested an explanation and remediation from the City.

Please send comments or questions to leefinney@verizon.net. Have a safe summer!

Lee Finney
ECA Vice-President & Safety Chair
410-268-2680

Crime Prevention Tips

Suspicious Activity and Crime Reporting Number 410 268-4141

Tip #1 - Use caution when conducting transactions at ATMs. Nationwide, there have been cases reported where PIN numbers have been obtained by criminals standing behind the ATM user with a cell phone camera. Usually you can shield your PIN number by placing your body between someone behind you and the keypad - or better yet, if someone is standing in very close proximity to you, ask the person to exercise proper etiquette by standing further back- or leave and conduct your transaction at another time or place.

Tip #2 - Leave the ringer volume on your telephone at a low level when you are not home- especially if away on vacation. Hearing an unanswered phone can be a tip off that your home is empty. Similarly, if you use an answering machine, leave the volume on that down also so that someone on the outside cannot hear it.

Tip #3 - Help your senior citizen friends and relatives avoid being the victims of fraud. Remind them to always check with a trusted friend or relative before committing to any substantial financial transactions. They should be advised to follow this practice even if it is a family member involved in the proposal.

Tip #4 - If you are going on vacation, take crime prevention with you. For starters, prepare for your trip if you are going to unfamiliar areas by obtaining maps and formulating a travel plan with directions beforehand. This could help prevent you from getting lost in possibly dangerous, unfamiliar territory. Stopping for directions in such conditions could be hazardous. If you must ask directions, do so at a busy public area such as a gas station or travel plaza, rather than from pedestrians.

Tip #5 - Inventory and mark your valuables throughout your home and store the records in a safe place. This can help with insurance claims and recovery of property in case your home is ever burglarized. Use your driver's license number as an identifier rather than your social security number- law enforcement cannot readily trace property through social security numbers.

Tips are extracted from various Annapolis Police Department Neighborhood Watch Community Policing Reports, which are available daily at Annapolis Daily Police Report.

printer friendly version

web design by stellar presentations, inc.