This month, Mayor Fenty’s newly appointed Chief of Police, Cathy Lanier, will be attending our regular monthly meeting. She arrives at a very important time. Citizen concern over crime and public safety has risen sharply, along with an upsurge in high visibility crimes. Hardly a week passes without a report of someone being brutally mugged and robbed or even shot and killed—within our ANC boundaries.
ANC2F has taken steps to meet both the public apprehension and the actual threat of criminal activity. The Crime and Public Safety Committee has active and ongoing efforts and initiatives. One is to intensify our allocution program. Allocution is the process by which the community is represented in Court at the sentencing of individuals, to urge the Court to mete out appropriate sentences to those found guilty of crimes. When I say represented, I mean by our own constituents who explain to the Court the impact of the crime or crimes the pending defendant has committed.
The Committee also deals with problem properties which house, harbor, or attract criminal elements. It has been active in anti-prostitution efforts, and a host of other issues.
If you are like many in the community who see increases in crimes, including the recent rash of gang generated graffiti, you might consider devoting some time to assisting—or even joining—the ANC2F Crime and Public Safety Committee. Take a look at the Committee’s web page our site.
And please come to the meeting with questions and issues for Chief Lanier, our direct representative Lt. Mike Smith, and the Chairman of our Crime and Public Safety Committee Mike Sheaffer, all of whom will be active in this meeting.
In addition to the focus on crime, the agenda for the meeting contains a number of other matters of potential interest and impact for the community (see the agenda posted on our website).
I and my fellow Commissioners look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
Charles Reed
Chairman ANC2F
