CAG’s Expanded Public Safety Program Needs You Now!
An engaged, vigilant community is vital to preventing crime
Donate to Support the Public Safety Program
or
Mail in your Donation - Click here for Donation Form
Other Safety Information
Block Captain Contact List
Public Safety Tips
Find out what you can do to prepare for an emergency - DC Emergency Preparedness Resources
In response to serious and wide-spread community concerns about public safety, the Citizens’ Association of Georgetown (CAG) has broadened its Public Security Program.
The expanded program is based on the premise that there is strength in numbers and community involvement. Working together we can have:
- more police presence,
- increased Guard surveillance,
- immediate information about crimes,
- better communication among neighbors,
- stronger advocacy with the MPD and elected officials for police resources in Georgetown.
INCREASED SECURITY ACTIONS
CAG has started two programs to expand the police and security presence on our streets and has organized additional projects to enhance residents’ safety.
Metropolitan Police Department Special Police Patrols: Working with Georgetown University, CAG is funding two additional
police officers who patrol our streets on weekend nights. These additional officers patrol by car (or when possible, scooter) to increase their visible
presence and enable them to interact with residents. They are also in touch with CAG Guards via dedicated GPS (with Walkie-Talkie feature) phones.
This effort significantly increases the MPD police presence in Georgetown during high-crime periods. If CAG receives sufficient financial support from the community,
the extra MPD patrol will continue.
 CAG Guard Supervisor and car CAG Guard Supervisor and Patrol Car: CAG has enhanced the longstanding Guard Program by adding a supervisor and two patrol cars to our Guard contingent which increases the Guard presence, ensures that 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.
CAG Guards on foot patrol: The CAG Guards are trained uniformed officers provided under contract by the respected international Securitas
Security Services Inc. (formerly Wells Fargo/Pinkerton). The Guards patrol on foot during evening and nighttime hours, five days a week looking
for problems and reporting suspicious activity to the police via cell phone. CAG Guards wear reflective vests over their official Securitas
uniforms and provide a visual deterrent to crime as well as providing 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 have been successful in reducing
robberies, burglaries and muggings. The CAG Neighborhood Guards check in repeatedly with magnetic wands at numerous points on their rounds so
Securitas and CAG can monitor their “beats” electronically.
CAG Guards Provide Personalized Service: Residents who donate to the Public Safety Program can request personalized services from the
Guards: they will escort residents (and/or their guests) 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 Public Safety Program window sticker, and the Guards’ cell phone numbers and duty hours, so you can contact them directly at any time. Our
CAG Guards will visit in person at your home, if requested. They welcome the opportunity to meet individual residents in order to do their jobs better.
Working with the Metropolitan Police Department leadership: CAG’s Public Safety Committee has been working with the leadership of our
MPD Second District to achieve more community oriented and strategic policing in Georgetown. Our proactive discussions with MPD leaders have been very productive. Several members of CAG’s Public Safety committee have expert knowledge regarding best
policing practices and will continue to work with MPD officers to move ideas to actual implementation on our streets. We are also working with elected officials and the MPD to seek additional police
resources for Georgetown.
 Public Safety Block Captains meet with
Coordinator Helen Darling (seated 2nd from left) Public Safety Block Captains: Over fifty Georgetown residents have volunteered to be “crime communication central” for their close-by-neighbors by becoming
CAG Public Safety Block Captains. These committed individuals have contacted their neighbors by flyer and email to organize email networks, or in some cases, meetings, to discuss specifics about crime and security on their particular block. Consequently, interested neighbors now receive very up-to-date notices about crime on or near their blocks. “Our block really appreciates being kept informed” says Ginny Poole, block captain of 3000 P Street.
The Block Captain program was originally started in the mid 1990’s but had become inactive in recent years. At the beginning of 2007, CAG’s Public Safety Committee decided to reinvigorate the program and recruited Helen Darling to be coordinator. Helen held orientation meetings for the first block captains at the CAG office and at her house.
Helen says “we’ve been thrilled to have many concerned residents volunteer because they see the need for closer communications next-door-neighbor to next-door-neighbor.” Block captain Diane Colasanto notes that “ the grapevine is much more electronic than ‘in person’ these days. If someone’s car is stolen, a quick email can get the news to neighbors almost instantly – at their home and at work.”
Block captains send notices from MPD, GU and individuals if and when messages are relevant to their block. The Cloisters block captain Bev Casserly said “We really want to know immediately if there is a mugging or burglary near our home.” These email chains also help neighbors put bits and pieces of information together as a crime or suspicious activities occur.
The block captains also give CAG and the MPD invaluable feedback about what is of concern to their neighbors. This has really opened up the channels of communication. “It helps when you can get an email response directly from Commander Solberg!” said one block captain.
If you don’t see a block captain listed for your block – we need you! Please volunteer by calling the CAG office (337-7313) or Coordinator Helen Darling at 338-1353. To contact individual block captains, call the CAG office or download the Block Captain List here.
More Immediate Information and Alerts: You can 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.
PAYING FOR IT – THE PRICE OF INCREASED SECURITY
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 the first three months of the pilot programs. But to continue the expanded police and guard coverage, we
need to raise very substantial revenues soon.
DONATIONS ARE NOW TAX-DEDUCTIBLE
The good news is that, for the first time, donations to the Public Safety and Guard programs are completely tax deductible.
We are 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. We urge you to join other Georgetown
residents in meeting this important challenge.
Please join your neighbors in supporting this important program that keeps your neighborhood closely monitored at night and
provides individualized security service. We’ll all be safer and more connected!
Donate to Support the Public Safety Program
or
Mail in your Donation - Click here for Donation Form
Special thanks to our Community Partners who generously support the CAG Public Safety Program:
- Washington Fine Properties
- Jean Smith at Remax Real Estate
CAG Public Safety Committee
- Gianluca (Luca) Pivato (Co-Chair)
- Rich Hinds (Co-Chair)
- Betsy Cooley
- Roberto Coquis
- Diane Colasanto
- Helen Darling (Block Captain Coordinator)
- Hazel Denton
- Barbara Downs
- Steve Kurzman
- Ed Solomon
- Ron Lewis
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