Police station commanders talk crime and safety with neighborhood leaders
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| From the left: Capt. David Smith (Mason), Capt. Kathleen Sefchick (West Springfield), and Capt. Jeff Powell (Franconia). |
The commanders of the three police districts that cover
parts of Mason District – Mason, West Springfield, and Franconia – spoke about
crime and safety issues Jan. 24 at the first session of Supervisor Penny Gross’ 2015 leadershipseminar series.
Gross said Fairfax County has one of the lowest crime rates
in the country among counties of similar size, noting there were only 16 homicides
last year, most of them related to domestic conflicts. [That’s twice as many as the eight homicides
reported in 2013, however.]
in the country among counties of similar size, noting there were only 16 homicides
last year, most of them related to domestic conflicts. [That’s twice as many as the eight homicides
reported in 2013, however.]
Gross attributes the low crime rate to the focus on
community policing and the effort to ensure the police force reflects the
diversity of the community. One of the challenges currently facing the Fairfax County Police Department, she said, is filling vacancies in the face of a large
wave of retirements.
In the Mason District, one of the major safety issues is the
large number of pedestrian accidents in recent months, Gross said. Two
pedestrians and one motorbike rider were killed by cars last fall, and several
more pedestrians, including two children, were injured by cars.
large number of pedestrian accidents in recent months, Gross said. Two
pedestrians and one motorbike rider were killed by cars last fall, and several
more pedestrians, including two children, were injured by cars.
Capt. David Smith, commander of the Mason Police Station,
said the number of pedestrian accidents tend to rise in the fall when daylight savings
ends and it’s dark during rush hour. Capt. Jeff Powell, commander of the
Franconia station, noted that most of these accidents are the pedestrian’s
fault – in many cases they are intoxicated or fail to use crosswalks.
said the number of pedestrian accidents tend to rise in the fall when daylight savings
ends and it’s dark during rush hour. Capt. Jeff Powell, commander of the
Franconia station, noted that most of these accidents are the pedestrian’s
fault – in many cases they are intoxicated or fail to use crosswalks.
The audience – mostly the presidents and officers of civic
associations – expressed concerns about the following issues:
associations – expressed concerns about the following issues:
- Street robberies seem to be on the increase. Smith calls
these incidents, which usually occur between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., “crimes of
opportunity,” with the victims usually intoxicated. He said he’s expanded the station’s
bike team from three to nine officers and has them patrolling later at night
with the goal of getting potential victims off the street. According to Powell, many of these robberies start as
fights, with the winners taking things, like phones or neck chains, from the
losers.
- Speeding on Braddock Road is a problem, although a newly added striped parking lane and a temporary digital sign have been helpful. More crosswalks
are needed throughout the district. Gross said VDOT has to approve the location
of crosswalks and won’t put them in if the other side of the street is not a
safe place to walk.
- There have been a lot of loud house parties in the
Lincolnia Park area, including a drive-by shooting during a party a few months
ago. That incidence is still under investigation, said Smith, and it wasn’t a
random shooting; the parties knew one another.
- Members of the Potomac Pedalers bicycle club ride around
North Springfield, ignoring stop signs and other traffic rules. Bicyclists are
supposed to follow the same traffic rules as cars, Powell said.
- What constitutes public drinking? A large crowd of people often drink in a front yard; there are children present and the group leaves dozens
of empty beer bottles on the lawn. Drinking on private property is not a crime,
although people can be arrested for drinking in public, Smith said.
The meeting also featured a presentation on the upcoming
World Police and Fire Games, June 26-July 5. The games are hosted by Fairfax
County, with events taking place throughout the region.
World Police and Fire Games, June 26-July 5. The games are hosted by Fairfax
County, with events taking place throughout the region.
The games are expected to add $80 million to $90 million to
the region’s economy. As many 40,000 people are expected attend, including at
least 12,000 athletes from more than 70 countries, said Lt. James Travis. So
far, 43 countries have registered athletes, and 6,500 hotel rooms have already
been booked.
the region’s economy. As many 40,000 people are expected attend, including at
least 12,000 athletes from more than 70 countries, said Lt. James Travis. So
far, 43 countries have registered athletes, and 6,500 hotel rooms have already
been booked.
Some of the 61 events are standard athletic competitions,
like running, swimming, and wrestling. Others are based on skills used on the
job, such as racing on stairs, handling K-9s, and “ultimate firefighter.” All
events are free to the public, but some are ticketed because of limited
seating.
like running, swimming, and wrestling. Others are based on skills used on the
job, such as racing on stairs, handling K-9s, and “ultimate firefighter.” All
events are free to the public, but some are ticketed because of limited
seating.
Martial arts competitions will be held in Annandale at the
Ernst Center at Northern Virginia Community College, and softball will be at
Wakefield Park.
Ernst Center at Northern Virginia Community College, and softball will be at
Wakefield Park.
The headquarters for the games will be at the Reston Town Center. That’s where the athletes will register and where most of them will be staying. The opening
ceremony will be at RFK stadium in D.C., and the closing ceremony
will be at Wolf Trap.
ceremony will be at RFK stadium in D.C., and the closing ceremony
will be at Wolf Trap.
Travis said the organizers are creating a transportation
network for the athletes. And while security will be a priority, “we want the games to
be open and inviting.”
network for the athletes. And while security will be a priority, “we want the games to
be open and inviting.”
Fairfax 2015, the nonprofit organization formed to promote
and manage the 2015 games, is seeking 4,000 volunteers. If you’re interested,
there’s a volunteer sign-up form online.
and manage the 2015 games, is seeking 4,000 volunteers. If you’re interested,
there’s a volunteer sign-up form online.
Here we are with a homicide rate that doubles in 2014 but Penny Gross spins that to we have one of the lowest crime rates for counties of similar size. Well that makes me feel better that our homicide rate doubled. It seems strange that it double the same year that the gates were opened to allow illegals to come here and our schools have exploded in population to the point of out of control. Hey, we have the lowest crime rate for a county this size.
Ah yes. The homicide rate has doubled because of an immigration law that passed in 2013. Fairfax also had 16 homicides in 2012, how do you explain that? All the illegals went on vacation for a year in 2013 then came back?
I've seen an increase of MS-13 gang graffiti around town. I've taken a picture of a few. I've noticed the increase since we let thousands of illegal teens in last year …coincidence? I also have a relative who works at the TX border. Not all these teens coming in are innocent
With reference to VDOT not placing crosswalks in areas not safe to walk…ever noticed there's a crosswalk, including walk/don't walk signs, at the intersection of Columbia Pike and Lincolnia Rd? If one chose to cross Columbia Pike there, it leads to no sidewalk or cleared area to walk. Think this was done when new street light poles were erected.
According to Capt. Jeff Powell, commander of the Franconia station, most of the accidents involving pedestrians were because the pedestrians were drunk or failed to use crosswalks. Talk about blaming the victims. Does the same rationale apply to the two children who were hit by cars? Later in the article it says there is a need for more crosswalks in the county, so perhaps the lack of safe crossing places could have something to do with the problem. I recently returned from a visit to Massachusetts and I was impressed by the culture of yielding to pedestrians. If there is a problem with pedestrians not using crosswalks perhaps the policy could monitor the most dangerous intersections and issue a few tickets for jaywalking or motorists for failing to yield.
I would like to see these cycle cops in my neighborhood. Have never seen one in the 20 years that I have lived here.
Where is PFC Biggs?
Where is Patrolman Fife when you need him?