Annapolis Capital Punishment

In our continuing coverage of crime, CP has posted about the ostentatious Eastport New Year's Eve party replete with a gun theme, the ongoing police officer vacancies, the recent change in police shifts and an Eastport group concerned about gunfire. This Eastport group recently held a public meeting at Ahh Coffee!, and CP did not know a thing about it even though I spoke with Alderman Arnett and visited Ahh Coffee! the same day. CP has received numerous emails from Eastporters wanting to know about the group, and CP is at a loss to direct them. It was just reported in The Capital (which by the way gave an incorrect name for a police lieutenant)that some 50 people turned out, so CP invites any leaders or members of this group to write so we can help promote your goals.

Here is a note CP received from Eastport activist Bob McWilliams on the topic:

"I talked to a police officer today, and he liked the way it changes their shift work. But, he said it wouldn't do anything to help compensate for the lack of police officers.

If Moyer continues to think that we have enough police officers, then why doesn't she just eliminate 24 positions in the next budget. Way back when she was Alderman, she ran on filling the vacant positions (we were only 13 officers short then). Since it's been 12 years or so now (and we're now 24 positions short), it would appear that filling those positions is nothing more than something Moyer promises to get herself elected. Bob McWilliams"

And here is a note from longtime Eastport resident Ursula Schubert:

"Hi Paul,
Great website !
How can I find out about meetings in this area in re. to crime? I only found out about last night's meeting in today's paper. I now live in Watergate and it's a little better there than on Monroe Street, but we can still hear the shots too. Something needs to be done about the Director of Public Housing and the Chief, after 15 years of fighting this on Monroe Street we still have the same problems and nothing has improved. Ursula Schubert"

Thanks for your note Bob and Ursula. I understand that the vacancy is actually 19, but 19 or 24, we have a problem and I agree that neither the mayor or chief seem to feel this is a priority. I do not blame the Housing people as much as I place responsibility on our local government. The chief does not seem able to articulate a vision for community policing, or to concentrate resources in the most troubled areas, despite repeated citizen's request to move in this direction. Our police department does not seem open about developing and communicating strategic goals with the community.

However, regarding the shift change, CP spoke with three officers in the last few days in detail about the shift change. I know that I wrote that we should give it time and hope it works. However, although I admittedly don't fully understand their system, I looked at the printed duty roster and discussed this in detail to try to understand what this means. I come away with the sense that it will not really translate into more officers on the street at any one time because of the way platoons are organized and due to vacation leave etc. We still have plenty of officers being stressed due to overtime. One of the officers said it changes the way shifts are supervised more than it adds to officers on patrol. One said flat out it does not add to officers on duty at any one time.