Top cop says be proactive

WASHINGTON (Map, News) - D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier plans to further strengthen ties to neighborhoods through community policing while targeting car thefts and armed robberies in 2008, she said in a New Year’s Day interview with The Examiner.

Her look at the year ahead came against the backdrop of a slight rise in homicides in 2007 after the 21-year-low that was reached in 2006. And her forecast factored in new development and construction in the city that is creating a new crime landscape, with property crimes on an upswing.

“There are a lot of challenges and to get where we need to go, we need to keep on our toes and on top of things,” Lanier told The Examiner.

In her second year at the helm, Lanier plans to keep up the momentum of community policing that has helped information flow from the residents to police.

She’s increased the number of foot patrols and ordered officers out of their cruisers to interact with residents. Improving technology, like text messaging in anonymous tips, also has been crucial to solving crimes.

Detectives solved 70 percent of the homicides in 2007, an increase from last year and the best closure rate in 10 years. An overwhelming majority of homicide cases were closed based on calls from members of the community and anonymous calls to the tip line, police said.

“People are no longer willing to tolerate criminals living in their communities,” Lanier said. She pointed to a gun buy-back on Saturday where residents could pass along tips about residents who illegally owned guns in the city. As of midday Tuesday, the program has elicited 75 tips.

The dramatic development that is transforming Washington’s downtown has created new challenges and social tension as money pours into old neighborhoods.

Armed robberies are up more than 10 percent, while auto theft is up 5 percent. She’d like to work on new legislation and new policies to target those particular crimes in 2008.

Lanier said she’s concerned that armed robbery has become what drug dealing was in the past two decades. It’s easier to rob someone than to set up a drug operation, she said.

Car theft also must be taken more seriously, she said. She said many young people steal cars because they believe there will be little consequence. Lanier hopes lawmakers will increase the penalties for car theft. She compared the crime to the broken-window theory that if a city doesn’t take care of the problem, it invites more crime.

“Stolen cars may be a gateway to other crimes, a facilitator to new crimes,” Lanier said. “You can’t commit 15 robberies in one night without a stolen car.”

smccabe@dcexaminer.com

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