CAG Seeks Increased Financial Support for Expanded Security Program

In response to wide-spread community concerns about public safety, CAG has created a stronger Public Security Program for 2007. In addition to the longstanding Guard program, now supported by over 500 households, CAG has started two new pilot programs to expand the police and security presence on our streets.

In conjunction with Georgetown University, CAG is funding two additional police officers who will patrol on weekend nights beginning January 5th. These additional officers — otherwise off-duty police officers, known as reimbursable details — will patrol by car (and scooter when possible) to increase police visibility and enable them to interact with residents.

Note that this detail will be in addition to the police officers that currently serve our area, PSA 206. They will also be in touch with CAG Guards via dedicated GPS (with Walkie-Talkie feature) phones. On a trial basis, CAG has enhanced the existing Guard Program by adding a supervisor and a patrol car to ensure that the other guards are being deployed effectively and are working at maximum effectiveness. This increases the Guards’ ability to communicate with the police and adds a highly mobile rapid response capacity to the program. If these pilot programs get sufficient financial support from the community, they will continue beyond February.

The CAG Guards, provided under contract by the respected international firm Securitas Inc. (formerly Wells Fargo/Pinkerton) continue to walk their beats during evening and nighttime hours, five days a week looking for problems and reporting suspicious activity to the police via cell phone. CAG Guards, wearing Securitas uniforms and reflective vests, provide a visual deterrent to crime and alert “eyes and ears” for our community. They carry flashlights and cell phones, but are not armed. The Guards are familiar with the comings and goings around Georgetown and they check in repeatedly with magnetic wands at numerous points so Securitas and CAG can monitor their “beats” electronically.

Residents who donate to the Public Safety Program in 2007 can request personalized services from the Guards: they will escort residents between home and car, or to neighborhood engagements and they will also check house doors, parked cars and remove newspapers from your doorstep when you are away. Every donor receives detailed program information including a CAG Guard window sticker, and the Guards’ cell phone numbers and duty hours, so you can contact them directly at any time. CAG Guards will visit in person at your home, if requested.

CAG’s active Public Safety Committee, chaired by Rob Housman and Luca Pivato, is working with the leadership of our MPD Second District to achieve more community oriented and strategic policing in Georgetown. Several members of the Public Safety committee have expert knowledge and experience regarding best policing practices. Proactive discussions with Commander Andrew Solberg and Lt. Lucas have been productive. They will continue to work with the outstanding MPD 2D officials, incoming Chief Lanier, and elected officials to move ideas to actual implementation and to seek additional police resources for Georgetown.

CAG has re-activated the Public Safety Block Captains program to provide central contact points for information on public safety, block by block. Coordinator Helen Darling has been recruiting Block Captains and the first group has met for orientation with the Public Safety Committee, MPD officers and CAG Supervising Guard Officer Simatos. Block Captains in turn are contacting their neighbors to improve the security on their blocks – via meetings and/or email.

CAG has developed an online user-friendly map showing public safety incidents by date and location in Georgetown. You can also visit www.crimereports.com to have detailed daily, weekly or monthly email crime reports sent directly to you. Additionally you can sign-up for the Alert DC system which delivers emergency alerts to your email, cell phone, and/or other PDF devices.

The expanded Public Safety Program will cost more than ever before. The CAG Board has taken a proactive leadership role by committing organization funds to cover several months of the pilot programs. But to continue the expanded police and guard coverage, we need to raise very substantial revenues early in 2007. The good news is that, for the first time, donations to the Public Safety and Guard programs are completely tax deductible. We will be asking each resident of Georgetown to give as generously as possible. If we all share the financial responsibility at the highest level each household can afford, we will be able to sustain a comprehensive program. An appeal letter and a response form will be sent out in January and CAG urges you to join other Georgetown residents in meeting this important challenge.