Over 80 people joined the community meeting last night regarding the recent carjackings.

MPD Chief Cathy Lanier led the discussion, along with Deputy Chief Diane Groomes, 1D Commander David Kamperin, 1D Inspector Michael Reese, Lt. Renato Caldwell, detectives with the Car-Jacking Task Force, and several other officers.

Tommy co-hosted the community meeting with ANC Commissioner Mary Beatty, and several other commissioners from ANCs 6A and 6C attended the meeting.

MPD officers first shared and outlined carjacking data and incidents, followed by a discussion of how MPD is deploying their officers to increase visibility, as well as not-as-obvious plain clothes officers in the area. They also shared that they felt fairly confident most of the crimes were being committed by a mixture of juveniles and adults from both the Kenilworth and Clay Terrace areas -- not from within the community where the crimes are taking place. MPD also shared that many of the vehicles are abandoned not too far from where they had been stolen. Officers announded that they have made arrests in about half of the cases that have taken place recently.

Chief Lanier, when asked whether MPD was taking the problem seriously, jumped up front to state that if she has to be at a community meeting like this, then there has been a failure with MPD’s response – and she vowed to have it corrected.

Chief Lanier committed to placing additional foot beat (Full Stride) officers in the immediate area, as well as sharing the name and beats for each of the Full Stride officers in the area. Cmdr. Kamperin also shared that he and his officers are putting in place new deployment plans based on the crimes.

Cmdr. Kamperin shared as an example that MPD had not projected car-jackings to take place as frequently in early afternoons on Saturdays and Sundays, and will be shifting officers in response.

Understandably, many neighbors shared their frustrations and fears with the spate of armed car-jackings. Many of the concerns focused on improving visibility, preventing repeat offenders, shortening the response time from officers, and ensuring MPD takes the up-tick in these crimes seriously.

Chief Lanier asked neighbors to both be aware of their surroundings at all times, but to not hesitate in using 911 or the text message tip line (50411) to contact police if you see anything suspicious.

Tommy asked for the community to get together in 30 or 45 days for a follow-up meeting to gauge the follow through and response from MPD with the neighbors. He’ll work with the ANC and others to schedule that meeting for late January or early February.