Takoma Park Police Chief Antonio DeVaul said he was “very concerned about the increase in violent crime,” adding, “These violent incidents that have plagued our region are now impacting our City far too frequently.”
In a message to city residents Wednesday, he asked everyone “to act as our eyes and ears,” and let the police know about what is happening. Reports can be made anonymously.
Meanwhile, the police department has increased patrols for both uniformed and plainclothes officers and added more overtime to ensure that officers are working in what he called “hot spot problem areas.”
“We want to make sure criminals know that Takoma Park is not a “soft target,” he wrote to the community.
Officers have made several arrests recently, including two individuals they believe were responsible for multiple burglaries and one juvenile in a carjacking on Westmorland Avenue.
The department staff has held public safety meetings in Wards 1, 2, 3 and six and in several neighborhoods. Ward 5 is the subject of the next meeting. That will happen March 13.
Besides additional patrols, the department is looking at how best to address the criminal activity on a long-term basis. “Until we address these underlying issues, lack of education, food security, jobs, etc., the cycle of crime and violence will continue,” DeVaul wrote.
Also, apparently on the increase are reports by residents of hearing gun fire nearby.
Since Feb. 2, Takoma Park officers have received six reports from residents of shots being fired. In only one case did the officers locate shell casings. No one was injured in any of the incidents.
The most recent incident occurred Feb. 12 at 12:47 p.m. in the area of Hudson and Roanoke avenues in Ward 5 after receiving “multiple calls about hearing what sounded like shots being fired.”
Officers found seven shell casings that were indicative of a weapon’s discharge and those casings were impounded.
One day earlier, police responded to the area of Kennebec Avenue and Sligo Creek Parkway at 10 p.m. Officers canvassed the area and notified the Maryland-National Capital Park Police but found no casings, victims or suspects.
On Feb. 10 at midnight, police responded to reports of shots fired at Sligo Creek Parkway and Flower Avenue in Ward 2. No evidence was found.
On Feb. 5 at 10 p.m., sounds of shots being fired were reported at Flower and Hudson avenues in Ward 5. No evidence was found.
On Feb. 4 at 6 p.m., residents reported hearing shots in the 6400 block of Sligo Mill in Ward 3. No evidence was found.
On Feb. 2 in Ward 4 at 11:40 p.m., police responded to a report of shots fired at Carroll Avenue at Jefferson Avenue. No evidence was found.
RESPONSE TO THE INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME IN TAKOMA PARK
We are very concerned about the increase in violent crime in Takoma Park. These violent incidents that have plagued our region are now impacting our City far too frequently. More: https://t.co/u2sjisdmao pic.twitter.com/oCDANxRbDU— Takoma Park Police (@TakomaParkPD) February 15, 2023
