WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Two security guards hired to protect a North Capitol Hill Head Start center near where a 7-year-old girl was shot recently were arrested and thrown in jail earlier this month because they lacked proper gun permits.

More than a dozen uniformed police officers, some with their weapons drawn, forced themselves into the Azeeze Bates Day Care Center, 444 16th St. NE, and held the security guards in a classroom for questioning, said Yasmine Daniel, program director for CDI Head Start.

The police raid infuriated pre-school officials, who had been refused full-time city police protection. They characterized the arrests as an overzealous response by the department’s anti-gun squad. 

The day care’s 39 3- and 4-year-olds, who were already jumpy because of ongoing gunplay near the facility, were traumatized by the raid, Daniel said.

The police should be “going after the bad guys, not the people who are protecting us from the bad guys,” Daniel said.

D.C. police spokesman Traci Hughes said the security officers were arrested because they were suspected of unlawfully carrying weapons.

“We treat everybody the same,” she said. “No one is being targeted.”

The guards were hired by CDI Head Start following a March 28 gunbattle outside the day care, in which four masked gunmen fired on another man who returned gunshots. More than 50 rounds were exchanged, one of them catching a former day care student in the shoulder.

Police informed the school that the department didn’t have the manpower to constantly provide protection for the day care, Metropolitan Police Department and day care officials said.

That led day care staff to hire private protection in the form of Falken Industries, of Manassas.

The security officers made the children, parents and staff feel safe, Daniel said. One of them, Gavin Wageman, was a U.S. Marine who had just returned from a second tour in Iraq.

The security firm notified D.C. police about the security detail and faxed over a letter requesting a waiver for the gun permits, according to a police report. Matthew LeFande, an attorney for the security firm owner, said a police officer dictated the terms of the letter before it was faxed. The included a list of 19 guns owned by the company.

The next day, more than a dozen officers showed up to arrest the guards.

The children have since been moved to an undisclosed location, Daniel said.

While declining to provide security for the school, police kept a watch on one of the security guard’s cars before towing it away, Daniel said. “They wouldn’t guard the children, but they guarded the car day and night,” she said.

smccabe@dcexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

7:06 PM MST on Fri., May. 9, 2008 re: "Officials condemn police tactics in arrest of 2 guards at day care"

mikey said:
this just goes to prove that the institutions that we hold dear, that we are raised to believe are there for our protection and safety (not being an unreasonable request since our tax dollars and votes pay for the service ) have become just a business, a place where its more important that the police force make a paycheck by doing what they consider their jobs rather than doing everything necessary to protect the common people. i understand that it is a hard job i would not enjoy the prospects of being either a police officer or a security guard in that area, both are very hard and taxing jobs but a little common sense and maybe a phone call could have avoided this whole situation. instead we waste time energy and money as this becomes about personal and political rights instead of the fundamental rights this nation was founded on. how much time and money will this incident waste when it should be used to help the lives of the people who are the root of these problems. help the poor.

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8:24 PM MST on Wed., May. 7, 2008 re: "Officials condemn police tactics in arrest of 2 guards at day care"

RMvt said:
Putting your life on the line to protect someone else doesn't just happen in Iraq or Afghanistan -- it is alive and well here in the good ole USA! Thanks, guys! So, let's hope you get your names cleared for protecting the children who were getting caught in the line of fire! Semper fi!

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12:33 PM MST on Wed., May. 7, 2008 re: "Officials condemn police tactics in arrest of 2 guards at day care"

Examiner Reader said:
I know the man, Gavin in the article. I served with him in the Corps. He's like a brother. I wouldn't trust anyone more than him to guard my son. To see him arrested doing his job is insane!!!!

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5:12 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008 re: "Officials condemn police tactics in arrest of 2 guards at day care"

bibiroxxursoxx!!! said:
this is crazy!!!

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7:58 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008 re: "Officials condemn police tactics in arrest of 2 guards at day care"

Examiner Reader said:
Protect and serve, thats what we do. Keep the streets safe from security guards.

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7:55 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008 re: "Officials condemn police tactics in arrest of 2 guards at day care"

Examiner Reader said:
This coming from a former marine, with all the stuff that happens in d.c. you would think that the police would find something better to do than mess with a couple of guards at a school...

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3:45 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008 re: "Officials condemn police tactics in arrest of 2 guards at day care"

Examiner Reader said:
What the article fails to address is that BOTH of the "guards" arrested are DC Licensed Special Police Officers ALLOWED to carry firearms. The article also fails to say that a number of bullets from the shootout hit the daycare center. The waiver letter sent to DC Police was to allow the officers to wear street clothes as opposed to a uniform to not draw attention to themselves, and also to allow the use of semi-autos instead of revolvers. They (Falken) had submitted the waivers in writing and faxed them over to MPD. Friday, Falken called MPD and asked if all was in order for the site. Being told yes, his men were on site to be arrested at gun point by MPD on Monday. Guess that they should have been black crack dealers instead. Then they wouldn't have been arrested or even molested. Nice work MPD!

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12:29 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008 re: "Officials condemn police tactics in arrest of 2 guards at day care"

Examiner Reader said:
This is really sad! DC police are just useless! They need to go after the real bad guys and leave these guards alone. I cant believe they can guard a car for days and let our children get shot up while they are at school. I cant believe things like this actually happen in schools, but I CAN believe the pathetic response from DC police!

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6:42 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Hands off? D.C. police chief backs down on weekend staffing"

Northwest DC said:
How about some real crime fighting initiatives, Chief Lanier, instead of just making it look like we have a large police presence on certain weekends (All Hands on Deck), and offering amnesty to people who have illegal weapons in their houses? Are those two plans really the best we can do?!

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9:07 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 18, 2008 re: "D.C. Council panel approves reducing police retirement age"

Examiner Reader said:
I have not seen a story on the 70 plus D.C. Officers that were fired during the Ramsey;s area. Many of these officers had 20 plus years on the department or close to it. Maybe its to hard to do a little work to see what that top brass was all about.

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1:54 PM MST on Fri., Mar. 14, 2008 re: "Study: Switch in retirement plan has less appeal for senior cops"

Nostalgic said:
I disagree about Fitzgerald. His bark was worse than his bite. And you always knew what to expect with him. And you knew who was in charge. These days? Who's in charge? Take off your rose colored glasses and tell me who's in charge? No one. Probably time for a vote of no confident, know what I'm sayin'?

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6:37 AM MST on Fri., Mar. 14, 2008 re: "Study: Switch in retirement plan has less appeal for senior cops"

Examiner Reader said:
I management treated their officers better they would stay longer regaurdless of the 25 year retirement.

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1:35 PM MST on Thu., Mar. 13, 2008 re: "D.C. Council panel approves reducing police retirement age"

Examiner Reader said:
To the writer of "Fitzgerald!!!!!!!!!! We need you back buddy." Are you on crack ! You must have been one of those Ramsey flunkies that either got fired or kicked out of HQ. Anyone who knew or worked with Fitzgerald knows he was nothing but a yes man to Ramsey. He didn't have the guts, knowledge, skill, or common sense to be in the position that he was in, that is why he would never become Chief. And on top of that, he put his Lieutenant son in great positions before he left. Everyone knows that Gary Fitzgerald would have never been in the positions he is in without his father. He didn't earn them because of his skill, he was given them because of Daddy. Gary Fitzgerald riding a Motor, what an embarrassment. Look long and hard Gary, your not there because of your sucess or skill, it was all your Daddy.

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1:53 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "D.C. Council panel approves reducing police retirement age"

Nostalgic said:
Who are these "commanders" that are concerned about officers leaving? Show me one "commander" that doesn't want this law to pass?

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11:54 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "D.C. Council panel approves reducing police retirement age"

Nostalgic said:
Fitzgerald!!!!!!!!! We need you back buddy.

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11:52 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "D.C. Council panel approves reducing police retirement age"

Myths said:
Here are a few myths and urban legends: * Santa Clause is real * Big foot exists * You can't go swiming at least 30 minutes after you eat * The DC police has increased the number of foot officers that patrol the streets in DC at any given time. * You can catch an STD from a toilet seat * The DC homicide unit has a 70 percent closure rate (they actually arrest 7 out of 10 murderers in DC) * Paul Mccartney is dead. * DC police commanders know what is expected of them, and know who's in charge. * The tooth fairy is about to raise her rates to 5 bucks a tooth.

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11:45 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "D.C. Council panel approves reducing police retirement age"

Sick and tired said:
I'm so sick and tired of hearing how Lanier took over a department from the stone ages and now has to clean up the mess that Ramsey made. Ramsey was the best police chief this department has ever had. He raised the MPD from the Marion Barry pre-historic stone ages and brought modern technology, a new fleet, refurbished police stations, computers, radios, a multi-million dollar command center, and the list goes on. He's the real deal, which is why he was tapped to run an even larger police agency. Ask anyone of rank how the department is being run now. Meetings that always start hours late or never at all, confusion, no message, no direction, no one ever knows what to do or who is in charge. As any commander or assistant chief and they'll at first deny it, and give you a quirky smile and tell you everything is great. Sure it is. People's lives at at stake and the most important city agency tasked with protecting lives is being run by....well, not being run at all.

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11:39 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "D.C. Council panel approves reducing police retirement age"

Seriously people said:
I find it funny that Lanier opposes this bill, when she is going to benefit from having her retirement changed from having to do 28 or so years, to being able to retire now. And at 72 percent, which is much higher than 63 percent that everyone else gets. Why will she get that -- and she will because it is almost signed into law? Because someone told the council that that's what she should get. So, she'll be getting about 130 thousand bucks a year for life starting a day after the law is passed. Let the hard working DC cops have their 20 year retirement, not that the law is worth anything because no one will be able to afford it. Well, except Lanier because the city will eat the cost of her new retirement package. Part of her deal is that she doesn't even have to contribute into retirement as long as she stays. So, she's out of here in about 2 years, and you my DC resident friends will remain behind holding the bag.

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7:14 AM MST on Tue., Jan. 22, 2008 re: "Police go back to basics to tackle Shaw crime"

DCDad said:
Follow the Giuliani blueprint... enforce quality of life crimes.

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5:48 AM MST on Tue., Jan. 22, 2008 re: "Police go back to basics to tackle Shaw crime"

Joe Jena said:
Maybe it will make a difference. In the meantime get the headquarters staff to spend 2 hours a day working as opposed to 8 hours a day playing games on the internet and you actually might see some progress.

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5:48 AM MST on Tue., Jan. 22, 2008 re: "Police go back to basics to tackle Shaw crime"

Joe Jena said:
Maybe it will make a difference. In the meantime get the headquarters staff to spend 2 hours a day working as opposed to 8 hours a day playing games on the internet and you actually might see some progress.

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5:48 AM MST on Tue., Jan. 22, 2008 re: "Police go back to basics to tackle Shaw crime"

Joe Jena said:
Maybe it will make a difference. In the meantime get the headquarters staff to spend 2 hours a day working as opposed to 8 hours a day playing games on the internet and you actually might see some progress.

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8:07 AM MST on Tue., Jan. 15, 2008 re: "Cops raise presence in Adams Morgan"

Peeved Brookland Resident said:
How come this isn't news when there are VIOLENT crimes on the rise in NE DC, particularly Brookland? Seems the reporters go where the money goes...

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4:02 AM MST on Fri., Jan. 11, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

defense for the defenseless said:
Lanier has been in office for over a year and you are right she was a Commander but I can honestly tell you that nobody knew what was going on and even if she did Ramsey would of demoted her if she spoke up. THerefore, now she is STUCK with fixing everything. Look at her testimony as to what she has done so far, don't read the paper/news etc. reat the testimony and you might get a better picture of what destruction Ramsey did to the MPDC. It will take time, new union, new chief and all have to clean up a mess. THe prior union ruined MANY cases and gave officers bad information which can result in many UNFAIR labor issues which is not that fault of the NEW union but who has to deal with these issue, the new CHief and the new Union who didn't do anything to create this destruction........Unless your on the inside you really can't speak about the extent of problems within the MPD prior to the new union and the new Chief.....

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8:32 PM MST on Thu., Jan. 10, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

Examiner Reader said:
The police chief should, at this stage, stop blaming others. The increasing murder rate, poor conditions for evidence, etc. She speaks as if she joined the police force only last year. She has served as a commander in this same force. I hate this administration. It is like a bleeding hemorroid that won't go away fast enough.

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5:37 PM MST on Thu., Jan. 10, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

fedupcitizen said:
Here we go again blame Ramsey, Lanier has been at the helm for 1 year now get over it suck ups she is not capable of running this Police Dept. With Fenty at her back and her ineptness this city is going to hell in a hand basket. By the way how is that union coming!!!!

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6:19 PM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

Examiner Reader said:
I find it very hard to believe that 4 years of data was lost with a power outage. In 4 years there were no backups made, no printed copy of the information of the database or no other power outages. Someone call Oliver Stone, something doesn't add up. $$$

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3:32 PM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

John Day said:
What's the problem here? Are you meaning to tell me that they do not have a BACKUP of the database? That's "standard practice"...or it SHOULD be. If they don't, they need to fire the I.T. staff and hire some competent new people!

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11:27 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

Examiner reader said:
Lanier is not capable of handling her position without Fenty's overseeing. She is inexperienced and lacks wisdom with streamlining changes. There is no doubt that MPD is in need of change but it must be done with a steady hand and not a novice. Consideration must be taken into account hen making decisions that effect 4000 budgeted sworn personnel and 400 and some civilian positions. Her first 6 months as COP she demoted or forced retirements of 6 of MPD�s highest ranking officials and promoted �friends� within the department in those positions. Some of the ones� promoted went up by 2 ranks and were not on the list for those promotions. She additionally gave the command of �all hands on deck� bragged about all the arrest that were made, which we are now seeing that the SAO is complaining about and dropping the charges on many of these arrest. You don�t "ram" changes down people's throat and say this is the way it is, no questions asked.

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10:53 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

Examiner reader said:
10:19, That is a bunch of BS. I worked for DC Police Admin and they have several copies/faxes and computers for all staff to use and there were no locks on any of them. I personally handled all adverse actions against sworn personnel in conjunction with the Admin. Lt. and work closely with DC Lodge #1, which I am a member of. They support their members, provide appropriate paid lawyer representation, and they do not resort to unethical means such as some police unions I know in Maryland.

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10:42 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

DC4llife said:
It's really not about incompetence in a sense, if DC had the funding to do what they "NEED" to do this wouldn't be an issue.

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10:40 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

Examiner Reader said:
Is there no end to incompetence throughout the DC government?

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10:24 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

DC4llife said:
A case that stands on its own merit within DC, that's a new one. While nobody can dispute that the NEW union reps are MUCH better then what was previously there, the problem is they inhereited the crap and now they have to "try" and fix the problem based on what they have in their files. In a sense that is what the Chief is trying to do but to some members they aren't getting what they deserve because of all the screw ups from the previous union staff. It's a long hike uphill but hopefully when you get to the top it will be worth the walk....

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10:19 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

DC4llife said:
The MPD was and in many aspects still is in the STONE AGE, you can't use a fax because ADMIN has it locked up, no paper in the xerox machines and/or no toner. If the paper wasn't for Ramsey to put some PR document on you didn't get any, won't even mention the MANUAL typewriters.

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10:16 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

Examiner reader said:
1/7/08, 6:12, DC Lodge #1 takes excellent care of their members. You want to see unions that waste time in non-member cases instead of taking care of their own, check out the police unions in Maryland. Just read the news and you'll find that they do practices that are not consistent with their Constitution and Bylaws. They will trade/share stolen confidential employee information from the non-member employees to use for their member cases. In return they support these non-members by various means when they file grievances/lawsuits against the employers. Then if the non-member succeeds they will use that information against the employer as justification of wrongdoing by the employer to support their cases. Unethical means to say the least, whatever happen to letting a case stand on its own merit??

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10:01 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

Examiner Reader said:
DC should not get statehood until it can get the murder rate as high as Baltimore. That's the standard!

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9:16 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

Examiner Reader said:
For everyone who believes that Charles Ramsey did such a great job reforming the DC Police Department, what do you think now. The Police Union was right about him, everything he did was for PR purposes.

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8:12 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

Examiner Reader said:
Fenty is the real problem here. He micromanages every aspect of government and it is becomeing clear that he simply does not know what is best for this city nor does he know how to manage a city as complex as DC. He seems to be taking a step in the right direction with the school system but over all his decisions seem to only serve his self interests. Particularly in this case though; the District of Columbia would be better served if he would allow Lanier to do what she knows is best for the police department, its officers and how they can best provide safety to the districts denizens.

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7:54 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

Provocateur said:
Haven't they heard of (weekly/monthly) backups?

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5:38 AM MST on Wed., Jan. 9, 2008 re: "D.C. cop database wiped out"

Examiner Reader said:
And they wonder why they don't get statehood?!?

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11:40 AM MST on Mon., Jan. 7, 2008 re: "Police review the basics"

Examiner Reader said:
I agree it will take time.

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8:11 AM MST on Mon., Jan. 7, 2008 re: "Police review the basics"

DC4llife said:
The union does have better leadership now then it has in years. It will take time to change anything!!!

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7:26 AM MST on Mon., Jan. 7, 2008 re: "Police review the basics"

Examiner Reader said:
What we have here is a failure to communicate and the prosecutors shifting the blame. Every law enforcement person in the city knows the prosecutors in DC only want cases they can get a plea bargan on and not one they have to do the work for which they get paid to do. If it looks like you will have to be a real attorney, no paper it and blame the police officer. When is someone going to investigate the U.S. Attorneys office?

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6:46 AM MST on Mon., Jan. 7, 2008 re: "Police review the basics"

DC 7D said:
The comments against the union are just made by people running for election against the current leaders. These people are only out for themselves. The police union has better leadership now than it has had in YEARS.

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