Councilmember McDuffie: “In response to a spate of recent violent incidents in Ward 5, last week I shared that I would be providing a more detailed update”

From Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie:

“Neighbors,

In response to a spate of recent violent incidents in Ward 5, last week I shared that I would be providing a more detailed update, as well as hosting a series of community conversations around public safety. I called upon Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to increase patrols and have been working with both MPD and Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) to confront recent challenges. Please find below specific actions taken by MPD and ONSE in response to my requests.

Finally, I want to invite all residents to attend and participate in one of three upcoming community conversations on public safety taking place this Saturday, December 14, Monday, December 16, and Wednesday, December 18 (full details below). While I understand the notice for these meetings is relatively short, I did not want to delay these important conversations.

In service,

Kenyan

Update from the Metropolitan Police Department:

The Fifth District Crime Suppression Team is targeting all of Brentwood, Langdon, Edgewood, and Brookland neighborhoods on a daily basis, 7 days a week.

Additional officers and beats:

Brentwood currently has high visibility posts, 24/7, at the following locations:

1300 block Brentwood Ave
1400 block Montana Ave
1400 block Saratoga Ave
Brentwood Ave and Saratoga Ave
2300 14th St (Rec Center)

In addition to this, we have an officer 4 days a week working the children and staff of the Brentwood Recreation Center and Brookland Manor Community Center. Depending on manpower we normally have at least one crime patrol unit in the neighborhood.

Langdon has the following visibility posts staffed at least ten hours a day:

2400 block of Franklin Street to include 24th Street to Mills Avenue.
Rhode Island Avenue, 20th Street to Thayer Avenue.
There is also a business beat during the day into the early evening that covers Rhode Island Avenue to include the park/bodega. Manpower/weather permitting a scooter unit is assigned to the area of Langdon Park to include Rhode Island Avenue.

Edgewood has the following additional deployments:

Evarts to Hamlin, 6th to 7th Street.
Edgewood Terrace gets special attention.
4th Street to include the 400 block of Rhode Island Avenue and 300 block of Bryant Street gets special attention.
(It is preferred these beats are staffed by mountain bikes weather and manpower permitting. This is due to the level of construction in the area which impedes vehicular traffic.)
Mobile Camera 500 block of Edgewood Street. Very visible which acts as a deterrent.

Brookland has the following high visibility beat which is staffed a minimum 10 hours a day:

18th Street to 20th Street; Otis Street to Perry Street.

Update from the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE):

The ONSE was created in Councilmember McDuffie’s NEAR Act and it fosters community-based strategies to help prevent violence and increase public safety.

ONSE violence interrupters spend 40 hours a week in the priority communities of Brentwood, Langdon, and Carver-Langston.
Violence interrupters work includes building relationships and trust with high-risk individuals so they can be connected to government agencies that provide support and services, such as the Pathways Program.
Violence interrupters and case managers identify and engage community members with influence who can act as ambassadors to help more people get the services and programs they need.
There are 6 people working for ONSE in this capacity now and there will be 14 when fully staffed in January.”