Wayan writes:
“Its a hot summer day and you’re hungry. Want burgers and hot dogs served by DC’s finest? Then check out the impromptu BBQ going on a Grant Circle and Varnum Streets NW right now (1-3pm). Free food with the neighbourhood cops. Not a bad way to spend a Friday.”
Mad presence out at 7th and Taylor. I chatted with the cops, a bit, who were super nice and friendly. I still have to wonder if this is the best use of MPD resources. It seemed like they were mostly just checking to see if folks were wearing their seatbelts. I don’t know about you but I’d rather split these folks up and have them distributed on patrols throughout neighborhoods with trouble spots – especially in the evenings instead of the daytime. But I do have to emphasize that the cops standing out there in the freezing weather were super nice. I just wish they were used a bit more thoughtfully.
I know, I know, it’s part of MPD… Do they have to pay extra for that protection?
This guy was actually awesome. He was busting the chops of the proprietor of Dos Gringos in a very friendly and joking manner. He seemed to know everyone. This to me seems to be the ideal of an MPD patrolman. We need MPD guys like this guy in all of our neighborhoods.
“Police marked property”? Has anyone seen these before? Or better yet does anyone have one? What’s the deal?
It is one of my all time favorites. You know, it’s the one about World War II in Shanghai with John Malkovich and a young Christian Bale. Anyway there is one scene when they are in an internment camp and Christian Bale’s character visits the infirmary. At the infirmary he realizes that they put a mosquito netting around a patient, not to keep out mosquitos, but to signify when a patient is about to die. The mosquito netting has no practical function other than a psychological one.
That is what these police flood lights remind me of. A reader wrote in today to tell me about a murder in an alley near Princeton St. as reported by NBC news. And lo and behold tonight there was a big spot light up. Now what is the purpose here, the guy has already been killed. I know with some gang violence the spotlights aim to deter revenge attacks. Maybe that is why they used it here. But still does this light make anyone feel better and/or safer? All I could see was a giant mosquito netting.
I mean, a horse on 14th Street. It just boggles my mind. Next thing you know I’ll see an ice truck…
I know we have seen these horses before but I am incapable of passing these horses without taking a picture. This was taken Saturday on 14th Street near Girard. I just can’t get used to seeing horses in Columbia Heights. But I think it is awesome. I saw many kids going up to pet the horses. I think they make a nice bridge between the community and MPD.
Oddly both of the horses are named Rusty. [Ed Note: Both of the horses are not named Rusty. I didn’t catch their names.] But I did learn that they are part of MPD Special Operations and are deployed throughout the city based on the greatest need.
Someone asked last week what a light tower looked like. Well, this is it. I spotted this one on Girard St., which has been the home to a few shootings so hopefully this is helping.