The DC Police Department plans to merge the 2nd district, including Georgetown, with more crime-heavy Dupont Circle and parts of U Street and downtown. The plan won’t strain Georgetown’s police or reduce safety, but just because it’s reasonable doesn’t mean everyone agrees with it.
Spence Spencer is one of the expansion’s opponents and the president of the Citizens Association in Palisades, another 2nd District neighborhood. “Most concerning is that there will be a de facto drain of resources away from us,” Spencer told The Washington Post.
He’s not wrong about the new areas having more crime. Police statistics reveal a considerable difference in crime between the 2nd District and the more dangerous 3rd, which includes potential additions to the 2nd. The 2nd District had 1,748 crimes in the first seven months of 2007, with no murders. In contrast, the 3rd District had 4,968 crimes, with 12 murders.
In an interview in this issue, Rocco DelMonaco, Georgetown’s new Vice President of Campus Security, said he’s not worried about the district expansion because the Department of Public Safety can make up the shortfall.
While his optimism might mean better wages for underappreciated DPS officers, trusting DPS to handle Georgetown’s violent criminals is like getting a brain tumor removed at the Student Health Center. It’s not their job, and if they try anyway someone will get hurt.
No matter how DelMonaco is going to protect campus, though, the plan represents only a minor problem for Georgetown’s safety.
“Kinks have to be worked out,” said Commissioner Ed Solomon, the chairman of Georgetown’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission. Still, Solomon wasn’t concerned about the district enlargement’s effect on neighborhood safety.
The police service area being added to the 2nd District will be transferred with all police and equipment, said the head of the 2nd District, Commander Andrew Solberg. Solberg said the main reason for the switch is the 3rd District’s crime reports fill its radio channels, slowing down police operations.
“Because the volume of stuff going on in the 3rd district is so heavy, their officers can’t even get on the radio. By putting the calls for service, everybody will benefit,” he said.
Given the few crimes in Georgetown, we shouldn’t be worried about occasionally providing support to more dangerous parts of town. Protests against the plan are part of the same rich Washington paranoia that took our subway stop and gave us cameras and the “crime emergency.”
In fact, after July’s showdown between Georgetown student Winston Weatherspoon (MSB ’08) and twelve MPD squad cars, it’s worth considering whether we are a more serious drain on police resources.
The plan is too new to commend, but if it goes well it’ll be a step towards the residents ofGeorgetown sharing the rest of the city’s crime burden.
