Members of the Greenbelt Police Department (GPD) held a community forum on December 1 at the Springhill Lake Recreation Center to disseminate information on the recent spike in carjackings, robberies and violent incidents. Present were Chief Richard Bowers, Captain and Patrol Division Commander Jermaine Gulledge and Captain and Administrative Services Division Commander Tim White. Tips on how to prevent oneself from becoming a victim were shared as well as the imperative to report any suspicious activity, no matter how minor, as it may help solve a case or avert a crime from occurring. As the police can’t be everywhere at once, residents provide the eyes and ears of the community.
To date, there have been 20 carjackings (compared to three last year) and 63 robberies (compared to 51 last year). These have occurred throughout the city.
While it wasn’t possible to share exact details on the police response, as to not divulge the strategy to perpetrators, the department has increased patrols and redeployed officers to various hot spots at particular times according to the pattern that has developed for most of the occurrences and is working with property owners at Franklin Park, Beltway Plaza and Greenway Center, along with several homeowner associations, to stem this rise. Bowers reassured residents that the normal police coverage that the city has known will not be curtailed in this effort.
Bowers explained that most of the carjackings are “crimes of opportunities,” and not premeditated. Often they occur when residents leave their cars unattended to warm them up while stopped or at a traffic light. No one group is being targeted.
Bowers and his team said that the best way to prevent an incident is by being aware of one’s surroundings and not getting distracted. If a situation doesn’t feel or look right, take heed to avoid it, and report one’s observations to the police.
GPD is working closely with the county, especially their Carjacking Task Force, as well as neighboring jurisdictions on this regionwide problem. Bowers said that arrests are being made.
He stated that 50 percent of the perpetrators are juveniles under the age of 16. This fact lay at the heart of what the GPD feels is the most difficult and systemic issue, that being how to mentor and influence youth out of a path to criminality. Having adults take an interest in a young person’s development and struggles, as well as providing engaging recreation and sports experiences were presented as ways of addressing this issue. GPD is eager to be part of any such effort, in partnership with the school system (including efforts by School Resource Officer Michael Thomas at Eleanor Roosevelt High School), Greenbelt Recreation, the Boys and Girls Club and social service support groups like Greenbelt CARES. Gulledge praised city employees like Brian Butler at Springhill Lake Recreation Center for his “amazing” efforts at outreach and being “part of the lives” of Greenbelt’s youth. The point was made at the meeting that ultimately outreach is not enough. For it to be effective, youth must truly want to change.
Bowers said that while the GPD is “a strong department,” with sufficient funding from the city, GPD continues to be understaffed, with there being currently 53 officers. GPD is endeavoring to retain its staff and to recruit more. Bowers stated that a life in law enforcement goes beyond just the investigation of crime and is truly “the ultimate customer service job.”