Police commander to act on street racing complaints
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| The Mason Police Station |
Street racing and speeding in Annandale is a “top priority” said Capt. Shawn Adcock, the new commander of the Mason Police District at a March 2 meeting of the station’s citizen advisory committee (CAC).
Adcock succeeded the former commander, Capt. Brooke Wright, two weeks ago.
The police have received numerous complaints about speeding and noise on neighborhood streets following an impromptu car show at the former Kmart parking lot on John Marr Drive in Annandale last week. There have been no criminal charges stemming from that incident, Adcock said.
Residents also say street racing and speeding have been longtime problems, and people are often disturbed by loud revved-up engines.
Related story: New commander named for Mason Police District
The owner of the former Kmart property [Brian Kim] has agreed to put up “no trespassing” signs and let the police enforce them. Also, the police will put up a sign on John Marr Drive saying reckless driving will not be tolerated, Adcock said. He has also been in contact with the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney to request a special prosecutor to consult with on those incidents.
The car meetups and races are often unplanned, so “we have to address them quickly,” he said. “If I can have more dedicated officers, it will be easier to respond.”
Following the homicide at Fairmont Gardens in Annandale last month, Adcock said, “we’ve increased the police presence in the neighborhood to make the community feel safe and are asking people to come forward to help identify a suspect.”
That incident, in which a young man was killed and a juvenile was injured, is “very concerning,” he said. The victims are “two very young community members.”
Related story: Man fatally shot at Fairmont Gardens in Annandale
To prevent violent crimes, Adcock said he’s in discussions on how the police can partner with social services to support families and keep youths away from criminal activity. “It has to be a collaborative effort.”
The police department is combatting gang activity through periodic “saturation patrols,” with a heavy police presence for two nights in Annandale and two nights in Culmore.
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| The area covered by the Mason Police District. |
The police are working with members of the Korean community in Annandale to prevent more burglaries after a number of restaurants and other businesses were hit in recent weeks.
The station’s Neighborhood Patrol Unit (NPU) is examining surveillance videos and working on identifying suspects. Meanwhile, police officers are providing individualized security assessments to business owners and encouraging them to call the police if they see suspicious activity.
The Mason Police District is the smallest but it’s the busiest one in Fairfax County. The Mason NPU made 542 arrests in 2020, far exceeding any other district. The Franconia NPU came in second with 351, followed by West Springfield with 222.
Assaults are up slightly this year in Mason, which Adcock blames on pandemic-caused stress in households.
Related story: Police believe series of recent commercial burglaries are linked
Burglaries have also increased, as have larcenies, and motor vehicle thefts. In addition to the spate of burglaries at Korean-owned businesses, burglars have targeted pharmacies and Ulta cosmetic stores. Suspects that burglarized 13 Ulta stores were arrested in West Virginia.
In most cases larcenies involve people taking things from unlocked cars, Adcock said, and auto thefts are mostly carried out by joyriding juveniles.
There has also been an increase in calls for service involving emotionally disturbed persons.
On the positive side, drug and narcotic offenses are down, and there have been fewer vehicle crashes.
Also during the CAC meeting, Lt. Jane Burns announced the Mason Police District Officer of the Year is 2nd Lt. Richard Cash, who is in charge of the station’s NPU.
Cash was honored for his “strategic leadership and passionate dedication to his duties” during a difficult year. Under Cash’s leadership, the NPU completed 713 incident reports, made 542 arrests, served 44 outstanding warrants, recovered seven firearms, and participated in numerous community events.
During 2020, the NPU apprehended shooting suspects and made several narcotics arrests, recovering firearms and large amounts of cash. In November, Cash provided life-saving assistance to a 15-year-old shooting victim.
The CAC adds the names of the Officers of the Year to a plaque at the police station and presents the honorees with a certificate and Visa gift card.
15 responses to “Police commander to act on street racing complaints”
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Want to reduce crime in the Mason District? Partner with ICE and start deporting people in this country illegally. Strictly enforce traffic and vehicle registration laws. Strictly enforce zoning ordinances. Pressure business owners who tolerate criminal and gang activity on their properties. Crack down on gangs. In short, make the Mason District inhospitable to criminals.
Couldn't agree more. Why does local leadership cry about it when there are real solutions (crazy stuff like…enforcing long-standing laws and ordinances) to curtail these things right in front of them but they REFUSE to take meaningful action.
I couldn't agree more.
There is a difference between crime and civil violations. Are people who drive too fast criminals? Are people who violate zoning ordinances criminals? Being in this country without documentation doesn't actually make someone a criminal. While I understand that you are frustrated, almost everything you are talking about is something that is incredibly difficult to do practically…you would have to radically expand a police force already pretty stretched, increase zoning inspectors beyond a handful of folks, and gut many businesses that rely on this generally inexpensive work force to keep providing many of your neighbors with services and goods.
If your business can't stay solvent without the use of illegal workers/wages, then your business model is trash. Full stop.
Any evidence that illegal immigrants are a major driver in crime or is it just a bit of old fashioned racism? Because every study on the subject shows that people here illegally commit far less crime than American citizens.
Mr. Albright is essentially taking the same position as the Board of Supervisors does about the Mason District. With poor transportation (no readily accessible Metro), outdated housing and business infrastructure, limited law and regulatory enforcement resources, and demographic trends, just let the quality of life in the Mason District spiral down and keep busy building sidewalks and bike lanes to nowhere. Eventually, the Mason District will hit rock bottom and about that time, maybe two decades from now, perhaps a Metro line will arrive and that will spur re-development.
Perhaps that is a realistic way to deal with the Mason District's quality of life challenges but then one has only to look a few miles east to see that Alexandria has accomplished and wish the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors would develop and push for a better vision for the Mason District, too.
The BoS is much too busy dealing with top priority issues like banning plastic trash bags or building sidewalks…and then patting themselves on the back as if they've actually accomplished something meaningful. They have no time for addressing unimportant issues like zoning ordinances, crime, property taxes, gang activity, overcrowded boarding houses.
James, the practicality of it does not matter. This type of thinking has no problem with radically expanding the police force. The same people that are on here saying "I'm a good person, I have compassion" are quick to imply that we should be raiding Hispanic households in a Gestapo-style roundup.
It's deep-seeded racism, and they want a strong police to enforce their views on others.
You hit that nail on the head!! We also need to elect a more proactive county supervisor on crime.
"the police will put up a sign on John Marr Drive saying reckless driving will not be tolerated"
Yeah, that will completely eliminate the street racing.
This is both pathetic and hilarious.
Of course he will
It makes great photos
and cost nothing
Unlike fighting crime on Baily's crossroad or the freaking shooting every other day. for that he has no time, it does not produce any photo ops.
People have a right to enjoy peace and quiet in their own homes without being subjected to noise from people who have nothing better to do than rev their engines. How about doing that math homework so you can get a good IT job? Then you will really Zoom Zoom.
After reading these posts, I am convinced that a high heel drag race on all these roads mentioned will deter cars from racing.
There's a police helicopter flying over Annandale about once a week.