Retired MRPD Chief's Discussion

Since the first Monday in January falls on the New Year's Day holiday, the monthly Chat with the Chief will be re-scheduled to Monday January 8th from 7-9 PM at Artmosphere cafe.

Yesterday, the FBI released its Uniform Crime Report data for the first half of 2006. The data shows violent crime, particularly robberies and assaults, continuing an alarming upswing that began in 2005. An article in today's Washington Post article quotes criminal justice experts as saying, "Many communities, particularly those in urbanized areas, may be headed into a period of sustained crime increases ..." Not encouraging news, but not unexpected considering the significant increases we have experienced here in Mount Rainier over the past 12 months. As to the causes, the Bush Administration's cutbacks in aid to local law enforcement to help fund anti-terrorism activities and the war in Iraq, more than $2 Billion since 2002, is right at the top. James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University in Boston, was quoted as saying: "It's robbing Peter, and maybe even murdering Peter, to pay Paul." I could not agree more. Hopefully, our new Co

12/16/06 4000 block 35th St: Citizen armed robbery 12/16/06 3700 block 35th St: Citizen armed robbery 12/16/06 3100 block Queens Chapel Rd: Simple assault on victim 12/16/06 3200 block Rhode Island Av: Arrestee driving while impaired by alcohol 12/16/06 2900 block Allison St: Citation issued for public drinking 12/16/06 4200 block 28th St: Theft from auto 12/15/06 3400 Ceder Lane Alley: Suspects arrested for drug possession 12/15/06 2400 block Arundel Rd: Residential break and enter 12/15/06 4000 block 29th St: Break and enter commercial business 12/14/06 3300 block Rhode Island Av: Citation issued for urinating in public 12/14/06 2300 block Varnum St: Commercial armed robbery 12/14/06 3700 block Quincy St: Traffic stop, driver arrested for possessing drugs and a loaded handgun 12/14/06 3800 block Eastern Av: Break and enter commercial business 12/14/06 3700 block Quincy St: Traffic stop, individual arrested on an open warrant 12/14/06 4200 block 31st St: Vandalism to re

The police activity residents witnessed this morning was MRPD and PGPD Emergency Services officers responding to a barricade situation in the 3200 block of Varnum Street. At about 6:30 AM, MRPD officers were attempting to serve an arrest warrant on an individual who barricaded himself in the basement of a private residence. This individual implied that he had a weapon and threatened to kill police if they came in after him. At this point our officers left the residence, set up a security perimeter, and called the Prince George’s County Police Emergency Services Team for assistance. PGPD EST responded and took command of the scene. EST attempted to negotiate with the individual for his peaceful surrender, but was unsuccessful. EST’s use of tear gas also failed to entice him out of the residence. EST officers then made entry into the house and were able to subdue and apprehend him without injury.

Christmas Trees When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label “Fire Resistant.” Although this label is not a guarantee that the tree won’t catch fire, it does indicate that the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly. When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches when bent between your fingers, and needles do not break. The cut base of the tree’s trunk is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the fresh tree should not lose many needles. Wholesale Christmas tree growers generally harvest their mass-market trees in mid to late October. If you buy a tree from your local garden center (Lowe’s, Home Depot), nursery store, high volume discount store or from a lot operated by a service club, you are most likely getting a tree that can be as much as two months old before it gets to your home. You should ask the seller when his/her trees were cut and shop around for the freshest cut tree p

These tips will be coming to you in the December/January iss ue of The Message , but I thought it would be useful to post them here as well. Although these tips are particularly useful during the holiday season, you should be mindful of them all year long. Since crime peaks during the holiday season, it’s important that you learn how to keep yourselves and your loved ones out of harm’s way. Criminals look for the easiest opportunity when deciding where and when to commit a crime. Shoppers, particularly women, can be vulnerable to crimes such as theft, robbery and assault. The following crime prevention tips and recommendations will help you make your holiday shopping a safe and happy experience. · Be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. Knowing what is around you can keep you from being surprised, and it also allows you time to react if something appears suspicious. · Display confidence. Criminals tend to choose a victim who looks like an easy target.

12/09/06 3200 block Queenstown Dr: Suspect(s) stole auto 12/09/06 2900 block Arundel Rd: Non-aggravated assault arrest 12/09/06 2700 block Allison: Destruction of property 12/09/06 3400 block Newton St: Theft from auto 12/09/06 2700 block Allison St: Suspect(s) stole auto 12/08/06 4200 block 28th St: Suspect(s) stole auto 12/07/06 3200 block Queens Chapel Rd: Theft from business 12/06/06 4000 block 29th St: Theft from auto 12/06/06 4100 block Russell Av: Theft from auto 12/06/06 3800 block 32nd St: Theft from auto 12/05/06 4300 block 28th Pl: Suspect(s) stole auto 12/04/06 3400 block Rhode Island Av: Vandalism to property 12/04/06 4300 block 28th Pl: Theft from auto 12/04/06 3200 block Chillum Rd: Suspects tried to rob victim 12/04/06 2700 block Arundel Rd: Vandalism to auto 12/03/06 3500 block Bunker Hill Rd: Auto fire 12/03/06 3800 block 33rd St: Burglary and CDS arrest 12/03/06 4200 block Russell Av: Warrant Service during vehicle check 12/03/06 4000 block 34th St

The following safety video was produced by the Broward County Sheriff's Department (Florida) and provides important safety information to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. http://video.sheriff.org/psa_cartheft.shtml

12/02/06 4200 block Rainier Ave: Vandalism to auto 12/02/06 4100 block 30th St: Vandalism to auto 12/01/06 3300 block Chauncey Pl: Open warrant served after loitering stop 12/01/06 2300 block Varnum St: Suspects attempt commercial robbery 12/01/06 3400 block Rhode Island Av: Suspect cited for drinking in pubic 11/29/06 3100 block Queens Chapel Rd: Suspect arrested after citizen robbery 11/29/06 4200 Russell Av: Vandalism to auto 11/28/06 4200 block Rainier Av: Theft from auto 11/28/06 3300 block Chillum Rd: Vandalism to commercial business 11/28/06 3200 block Perry St: Theft from residential home 11/28/06 4100 block 34th St: House fire 11/27/06 3300 block Rhode Island Av: Suspect cited for drinking in public 11/26/06 4700 block 27th St: Theft from residential apartment 11/26/06 4400 block 28th St: Theft from auto 11/26/06 4000 block 33rd St: Theft of auto

I received this information via e-mail this morning. This is why I like to get holiday gift cards from my bank. Crooks have found a way to rob you of your gift card balance. If you buy gift cards from a display rack that has various store cards, you may become a victim of theft. Crooks jot down the card numbers in the store and then wait a few days and call to see how much of a balance they have on the card. Once they find the card is "activated", they go online and start shopping. You may want to purchase your card(s) from the store's customer service window where the gift cards are not viewable by the public. For more information on this scam, check out the information on Snopes.com. http://www.snopes.com/fraud/sales/giftcard.asp