For immediate release
Mayor Ellen Moyer proposes a five point plan to address concerns being raised about public safety in the City of Annapolis.
1. Starting immediately, the Mayor is asking Annapolis Police Chief Joseph Johnson to reduce the number of shifts at the Annapolis Police Department from the current five to three. This will increase the number of officers available for each shift. Mayor Moyer believes that this change will result in a higher level of visibility and protection and is the most efficient deployment of available officers. While much has been made recently of the numbers of police officers that are currently employed by the City, the fact is that the APD maintains a ratio of 3 police officers to every 1000 citizens-the national average is only 1 officer per thousand, said Mayor Moyer. The war in Iraq and retirement have both greatly impacted the number of qualified people that are available for and interested in police work. Jurisdictions nationwide are drawing from the same talent pool and facing the same challenges. We offer a very competitive package of pay and benefits to our officers and are always looking for talented people. We will aggressively continue that search without lowering our standards, but our principal obligation is to find new ways to use the people that we have now to enhance public safety.
2. Mayor Moyer is also asking that the police department purchase 4additional Segways. Segways increase feet on the street by providing greater mobility and allowing officers to cover a wider are they are on the street.
3. She is also asking the police department to look into the feasibility of adding at least one horseback mounted unit to the City's police force. Officers on horseback are highly visible, and research shows that in crowd and emergency situations a mounted officer is equal to ten officers on foot.
4. The Mayor will be asking the City delegation to the General Assembly to submit legislation designating the entire City of Annapolis a Drug-Free Zone. This action will double the fines and penalties to anyone convicted of dealing drugs in the City. We need to send a clear message that dealing drugs in the City of Annapolis will not be tolerated,รข€ said the Mayor. Hitting dealers in their pocketbook, doubling their jail time and in general making Annapolis a hostile environment to this type of activity will help convince dealers that our City is not a place they want to be. The Mayor will also be asking the City delegation to request additional state funds for a comprehensive drug plan in the City of Annapolis. "As I outlined in the plan for Robinwood that the City submitted to the County Executive some months ago, I believe a comprehensive drug treatment and prevention program to be an important long term solution to reducing crime in the City", the Mayor said. "However, an effective plan will be expensive, and we can't go it alone-we need help from our partners in the State and the County".
5. Finally, the Mayor is calling for help from citizens in identifying and lighting dark places in the City. Leave your porch and outside lights on or set them up on motion detectors-people that are up to no good don't like bright lights, said Mayor Moyer. If you see a dark place, or a street light out anywhere in the City, call us and we'll work with your Alderman,Public Works and BG and E to get the lighting improved. We want to help you improve your sense of security and safety in your neighborhood
Along with these five major points, Mayor Moyer is requesting the Chairman of the City's Public Safety Committee for additional specific recommendations and calling on the City Housing Authority to define,evaluate and report on their efforts to improve policing on Housing Authority property. We give the Housing Authority $200,000 annually to assist with public safety on Housing Authority property and we have never seen an accounting about how that money is being spent, said the Mayor.
I am continuing to request regular reports and recommendations from the Housing Authority and the Public Safety Committee. Recent events and the accompanying headlines are indeed troubling, but Annapolis Police Department statistics clearly show that crime is down6% from this time last year. The goal of every official in this City,elected or appointed, is to improve personal and public safety. As in the past, the City will continue collaborative public safety programs within our neighborhoods and work with residents to help define and implement solutions. The success of the Clay Street Public Safety Team and recent efforts by Eastport residents show what can happen if citizens become partners in public safety efforts. Annapolis is a wonderful, vibrant City and we all must continue to work as a community to make it even better.
