NATIONAL NIGHT OUT – AUGUST 6

McGruff the Crime Dog

By Lori Jaffe

With MoCo crime on the rise, and our police department facing a shortage of officers, many residents are concerned about their safety. Our politicians created the dysfunctional environment that Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) Chief Marc Yamada must now work in. Please help the Chief as he tries to bring normal back to Montgomery County. Below are some of the things you can do, one of which is to attend the National Night Out (NNO) tomorrow, August 6.

• Attend the National Night Out in your neighborhood. The largest NNO in Montgomery County will take place in Olney (5pm to 8pm) at the Shops at Fair Hill, located at Olney-Sandy Spring and Spartan Roads. “This annual community-building campaign promotes ‘police/fire-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer and more caring places to live.’”
• Participate in your local neighborhood watch. Most community associations have one. If your association doesn’t have one, you and your neighbors can start one. Secure Potomac is one example of neighbors getting together to help improve neighborhood safety.
• Contact your local police department to ask how you can coordinate with them. Enter your zip code to find your local police department.
• Contact Chief Yamada to let him know what you want the police to do in your neighborhood and in your child’s school.
• Parents should contact their school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) if they would like the MCPD to make a presentation at their school. MCPD currently focuses on the high schools, but the Chief feels it would be better to include middle and even elementary schools to enhance the chances of establishing better relationships with students as early as possible.
• Residents can become more informed and involved by attending the Citizen Academy or working on an advisory board. Yamada believes that groups made up of people of differing backgrounds and differing views make the best decisions.
• To avoid “theft from vehicle” crime, be careful not to leave your vehicle unlocked. Do not leave packages in your vehicle.
• Chief Yamada mentioned that a very vocal segment of the population focuses only on any mistake a police officer may make. This requirement for perfection causes low morale. Please remember to thank the next officer that you see. As Chief Yamada said, one pat on the back can make a difference to an entire group of officers.

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Lori Jaffe is the Party Secretary for the Montgomery County Republican Central Committee, volunteer coordinator and Member of the Executive Board. She can be reached at [email protected]