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The Most Important Thing You Can Do To Keep Us Safe!

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Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Community Crime Report: November 20-26, 2019

Provided by COPS Officer Timothy Green, TDGreen1@co.pg.md.us, 301-292-5300.

There were 18 thefts from auto in the county on Tuesday.  Please remember to remove valuables from an unintended vehicle and LOCK your car!
Please be safe and secure during the Holiday Season. Keep your focus on your driving while on the road and stay aware of your surroundings while you are out shopping.
Enjoy the season with your family and come home safe.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Governor Hogan commemorates victims of drunk driving crashes

(Click on the image for the Nottingham.md report)
  • Governor Larry Hogan on Tuesday joined state officials and more than 100 family members and friends of victims of impaired driving crashes for the 16th annual Maryland Remembers ceremony.
  • “Too many Maryland families have been shattered and too many lives have been cut short, which is why we will never stop fighting to prevent more needless deaths from drunk or drugged driving,” said Governor Hogan. “On behalf of all the citizens of our state, let me say thank you and God bless you for choosing to speak out about the heartbreak you have endured, thank you for your courage and your bravery, and thank you for channeling your unimaginable grief and pain into such a positive effort to save lives and help keep others from experiencing the same loss.”
  • The annual event – held this year at the Miller Senate Office Building in Annapolis – takes place at the beginning of the holiday season, when impaired driving crashes tend to increase. In 2018, of the more than 19,000 people arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, approximately 2,225 arrests occurred from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.
  • From 2014 to 2018, nearly 800 people were killed and 16,000 were injured in impaired driving crashes in Maryland. Impairment caused by alcohol and/or drugs is a contributing factor in roughly one-third of highway fatalities and serious injuries each year.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Protect Yourself from Package Theft

(Click on the image for an informative video)

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Don't Be a Criminal's Santa!

Holiday Tips from Major Mitchell and Captain Smith.

While Police District VII has the lowest crime rate in the county, we do have some crime and we can reduce it more. Most of our crime is property crime, not violent crime.
During the holiday season when we are doing more shopping and we have more hours of darkness, here some things you can do to prevent crime:
  • Keep doors, windows, and gates locked - don’t make it easy for criminals to get into your home and car.
  • Do not warm up your can and leave it unattended. The vapor from your tailpipe is a giveaway to criminals that your car is ripe for them to take.
  • Do not leave anything visible in your car to attract a criminal’s interest. Put packages in your trunk!
  • Hide handicap placards when they are not in use.
  • Take your garage door transmitter inside if you park your car outside your home. It’s a key to your home. 
  • Be a good neighbor. If you see a neighbor’s garage door open, newspapers piling up, trash cans not brought in or packages in their car, let them know they are making their property a target for criminals.
  • Mark your property with your driver license number so it can be returned if it’s stolen.
  • Criminals prefer darkness so keep outside lights on. That’s cheap protection.
  • Attend the District VII Citizens Advisory Council. The CAC meets the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the District VII Community Room. (No meeting in November, December, and August.)
  • Join Neighborhood Watch!

Neighborhood Watch "one of the best things they ever started for burglary prevention."

(Click on the image for the video)

From a March 2017 "Today" report by Jeff Rossen and Anneke Foster:

Nicholas Kyriazis estimates he's burglarized at least 100 homes, maybe as many as 150. So who better to explain how to protect your home from burglaries?
  • Have a neighbor collect your mail when you're away. Mail in the mailbox signals burglars that no one is home.
  • Leave your car outside. "If there's no cars in the driveway, there's a good chance there is no one home," Kyriazis said.
  • Thieves often strike in the morning. Kyriazis told Rossen he typically did burglaries between 8 a.m. and before 2 p.m. More than half of convicted burglars surveyed by WNBC in New York also said they target homes in the morning.
  • Don't assume an alarm system will protect you. "Alarm system alerts me that the people are not home when the alarm is turned on," Kyriazis said.
  • Don't assume home security cameras will protect you. "People got money for security cameras, they got something in there they're protecting."
  • Have a neighbor watch your house. Kyriazis called neighborhood watch "one of the best things they ever started for burglary prevention."
  • Lock up when you leave. Many people leave doors and windows unlocked, and thieves take advantage. "I've never carried burglary tools," Kyriazis said.
  • Dogs can be a good deterrent. Kyriazis said a barking dog would give him pause.
  • Never engage a burglar. Thieves and experts agree that if you come upon a burglary in progress, the best option is to leave, find a safe place and call 911 immediately.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Maryland drivers, please move over for emergency vehicles


By Greg Slater, November 15, 2019
Greg Slater is the Maryland state highway administrator.

Being the Maryland state highway administrator is a role that requires a lot of early mornings and late nights out on the road and in communities. As I am out there, one of the things that always makes me smile is seeing one of our dedicated employees on the road helping someone in need, or getting a call, email or letter from those who were helped.
Three years ago, I was driving back from a community meeting late one night, and I heard a voice come across the radio unit in my vehicle that simply said, “I’ve been hit.”
Our operations center responded, “Please clarify, your vehicle has been hit, or you have been hit?” There was no response.

Our incident response representative was hit by a passing vehicle while he was outside his truck with its lights on. Fortunately, he was not killed that night. The time that passed until we located our team member was the longest 10 minutes of my more than 20-year career in state government.

I remember thinking about the family members involved and hoping their loved one was okay.

Fast-forward three years — on the anniversary of the expandedMove Over” law designed to protect people from this very situation — I was preparing to go live on television when I received an alert on my phone. There was a two-vehicle crash on the Capital Beltway. Our Coordinated Highways Action Response Team driver pulled behind the crash to assist, exited his truck with lights on and was grazed by a passing vehicle. The driver did not even stop.

These are just two stories that illustrate our challenge; two examples of many that happen every year to our employees on the road helping motorists or taking care of our vitally important transportation infrastructure. Two examples out of the many law enforcement officers who are struck while keeping us safe on the roads. Two examples out of many of ordinary Marylanders who are struck when they simply had a flat tire or car trouble and had to get out of their vehicle.

All of these incidents can be avoided and our personnel can go home safely and uninjured at the ends of their shifts if we all just move over, slow down and drive with great attention and care when passing a vehicle on the side of the road or when we drive through an area where people are working.

In the past year, law enforcement personnel issued more than 17,000 citations and warnings to motorists who violated the Move Over law. It requires motorists to move into the nearest adjacent lane away from shoulder activity of emergency personnel and service workers or to slow down if they cannot safely move into another lane. Violators face a maximum fine of $750 and three points.

Our courageous law enforcement officers, paramedics, maintenance crews and service responders are working within inches of vehicles traveling at high speeds. As you are traveling this beautiful state, please give these dedicated professionals who are our fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, spouses and friends the room they need to do their jobs safely and ensure they make it home. I see and experience a truly amazing and dedicated workforce every day helping people in need, taking care of our transportation system, picking up litter, cutting grass, clearing snow and ice from the system, and working to keep us a little safer. Working alongside these women and men, I see the pride they take in our mission. They deserve a safe workplace, and they deserve to get home to their families. Please, move over, Maryland.

What Is Prince George's County Vision Zer0 Plan?


(Click on the image for the briefing)

MD 210 speed violations as of Nov 18, 2019:

Officer issued citations:    20,635
Speed camera violations:   7,420
Total:                                28,055
Average/day:                           87

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Thank You District VII Officers for Keeping Us Safe!

The Afternoon Serving






The Midnight Serving



And thank for your support:
  • Bennett Caterers
  • The Furlough Cheesecake
  • The Indian Head Highway Area Action Council (IHHAAC)
  • District VII Citizens

Thursday, November 14, 2019

PGPD Fugitive Unit Locates & Arrests Suspect Wanted for Fatal Stabbing Outside of Restaurant

(Click on the image for a short video)

  • On Wednesday, the Prince George’s County Police Department’s fugitive unit located and arrested 30-year-old Ricoh McClain. McClain is charged with fatally stabbing 28-year-old Kevin Tyrell Davis outside of an Oxon Hill fast food restaurant last week. The investigators tracked down McClain at a home on Nova Avenue in Capitol Heights. Preliminarily, it’s believed McClain was the acquaintance of a person staying at that residence.
  • On November 4th, at approximately 7:00 pm, patrol officers were called to the fast food restaurant in the 6200 block of Livingston Road for the report of a fight. They discovered Davis outside in the parking lot suffering from a single stab wound. He died a short time later. The preliminary investigation reveals McClain and the victim got into a brief verbal argument after the victim cut in front of several customers waiting to order food. They both then got out of the line, walked out of the front door together and McClain immediately stabbed Davis. McClain then fled from the area. McClain is charged with first degree murder, 2nd degree murder, 1st degree assault, 2nd degree assault, and reckless endangerment. A court commissioner ordered him held on a no-bond status at the Department of Corrections.
  • If anyone has information relevant to this investigation, they are asked to please call detectives 301-772-4925. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.)

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

People are calling an Omaha boulder a “hero” for taking out SUVs. This also has a deadly serious message.

(Click on the image for the Greater, Greater Washington story)
  • A boulder in an Omaha parking lot is racking up an impressive high score of taking out SUVs.
  • Many children are about the size of that boulder, and it’s clear that these vehicles are designed so drivers can’t see boulder- or child-sized objects right near or in front of them.
  • [Vehicles have] been getting bigger and taller, and more deadly.
  • SUVs’ death toll has risen 23% for people walking and 20% for people biking since 2009, Streetsblog wrote. ACT noted that someone is 2-3 times as likely to be killed if hit by an SUV than a sedan.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Police Charge Man Wanted for Popeye's Fatal Stabbing

(Click on the image for the Police Blog post) 
The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit today released the name of the man wanted for a fatal stabbing outside of an Oxon Hill fast food restaurant last week. He is 30-year-old Ricoh McClain. His last known address is the 5500 block of Marlboro Pike in District Heights. He’s charged with fatally stabbing 28-year-old Kevin Tyrell Davis of Oxon Hill. Anyone who knows McClain’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or detectives at 301-772-4925.
On November 4th, at approximately 7:00 pm, patrol officers were called to the fast food restaurant in the 6200 block of Livingston Road for the report of a fight. They discovered Davis outside in the parking lot suffering from a single stab wound. He died a short time later at an area hospital.
The preliminary investigation reveals McClain and the victim got into a brief verbal argument after the victim cut in front of several customers waiting to order food. They both then got out of the line, walked out of the front door together and McClain immediately stabbed Davis. McClain then fled from the area.
McClain was first positively identified by a Prince George’s Police Officer who saw the surveillance images and recognized McClain from previous investigative stops. We also received multiple tips from the community.  We thank residents for their invaluable assistance.
McClain is charged with first degree murder, 2nd degree murder, 1st degree assault, 2nd degree assault, and reckless endangerment. He is considered armed and dangerous, if you see him, please do not approach him, please call 911. 
If anyone has information relevant to this investigation, they are asked to please call detectives 301-772-4925.  Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.)

A media briefing is here.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

New Cars Are Safer, But Women Most Likely to Suffer Injury

(Click on the image for the July 2019 UV study)
  • "Cars built in the last decade have been shown to be safer than older models, including in the most common types of crashes – frontal collisions. However, a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia’s Center for Applied Biomechanics shows that women wearing seat belts are significantly more likely to suffer injury than their male counterparts."
  • "Belted female auto occupants have 73% greater odds of being seriously injured in frontal car crashes compared to belted males (after controlling for collision severity, occupant age, stature, body mass index and vehicle model year). The difference in risk is greatest for injury to the lower extremities, but also occurs with several other types of injury."
Also from UV: Preparing for an Autonomous Future:
  • The advent of autonomous vehicles is about to create another vulnerable population: passengers who recline in their seats.
  • “Once cars are in a form of autopilot, we can expect that the occupants will spend their time reading, playing video games and even sleeping – and that means that some will recline their seats,” Kerrigan said. This is not an encouraging prospect.
  • Kerrigan and his colleagues have looked at field data from accidents where front seat passengers have been reclining, and the consequences, he said, are “horrific.”

Friday, November 8, 2019

Neighbors Work with Police to Track Down Porch Pirates

(Click on the image for Tracee Wilkins News4 report)
From News4:
Two women are charged with theft after police say they stole packages from multiple homes in Fort Washington and Accokeek.
Breanna Stewart, 22, of Alexandria and Edita Hynson, 23, of Oxon Hill were charged with multiple counts of theft after neighbors were able to tip off police about the thieves in their neighborhood.
Michael and Christina McLeese were sitting at home when horrifying security cam footage caught their attention: Someone was stealing a package from their front door.
"Obviously they heard us yelling and they dropped it and got in the car and pulled off," Michael McLeese said.
Then, Christina McLeese decided to give chase, hopping into her own vehicle and driving after the two thieves.
"I wanted to get a tag number because I said this is a violation," Christina McLeese said. "You came onto my property. You disrespected my home. You can't get away with this."
The Fort Washington residents relayed the information they'd gathered to police. The Prince George's County Police Department had already assigned a detective to package thefts after a string of reports came from Fort Washington and nearby Accokeek.
The detective drove to the area, where he spotted the gray sedan he'd been tipped about on Mattawoman Way in Accokeek.
Police set up a traffic stop for the vehicle. They discovered several stolen packages in the women's gray Scion after performing a search.
The McLeeses said the mugshots of the two women that police apprehended matched who they saw on their front lawn. They credited police with their speedy response.
"They took the package at 2:51 and by I want to say 7:30 I got the call from the detective saying, 'We have them in custody,'" Michael McLeese said.
Police are now trying to find the owners of the items they recovered from the vehicle.
Detectives are investigating whether the women may have committed additional package thefts. They are asking anyone who had a package stolen in Fort Washington or Accokeek in the past week to reach out.

Chief on the Go - McOfficer

 Mary and Hank
 In Training
 More Training
 At Your Service

You're Doing a Good Job!

Not Your Typical Drive-Thru!


A Joint Effort

I Can Do This!

You Better Not Be Speeding in the Drive-Thru!

 
They're Glad to See You

An Order of Peace Fries Coming Up

That Was Fun!
Thank you Mary Hopkins-Navies for your continued support of and partnership with our community and our Police!

Friday, November 1, 2019

Take the Pledge

(Click on the image to take the pledge)

  • Please share this with your family, friends and co-workers.
  • Encourage them to take the Pledge so we all get home safe.

A Fun "Chief on the Go" - Nov. 8th


Don't be surprised if you see Chief Stawinski behind the counter wearing an apron!

MD 210 Enforcement and Inspections of Commercial Motor Vehicles

From Major Keleti, Commander, Special Operations Division, PGPD:

On October 29th and 30th, members of the Special Operations Division along with members of the Maryland State Police Commercial Enforcement Unit conducted selective enforcement and inspections of commercial motor vehicles on the corridor of Indian Head Highway.  Each inspection can take up to 45 minutes or even longer to perform.  Our overt patrolling created a positive reaction on social media as well with the professional commercial drivers.  This operation was a joint effort as we will continue to work together to make highways safe for all.  [Above] are the statistical data for the operation.  As always, take care and enjoy your weekend.