Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier announced today the final results of Phase IV of All Hands on Deck (AHOD) which began on Friday November 2, 2007 and continued through Sunday November 4, 2007.
During AHOD, all available sworn MPD personnel were on patrol throughout the District emphasizing community policing, focused law enforcement and community outreach. The AHOD initiative is part of the Metropolitan Police Department’s larger effort to improve public safety by encouraging greater communication with residents. More officers on patrol during AHOD allowed for more proactive policing, rather than restricting them entirely to patrol cars responding to multiple calls for service.
Officers and MPD recruits handed out hundreds of brochures and pamphlets in every district educating residents about how to avoid becoming victims of theft, burglary, assault and other offenses. Officers also went door to door distributing flyers on open homicide cases, and solicited information on several open assault with intent to kill cases currently under investigation by MPD’s Violent Crimes Branch.
As a result of AHOD Phase IV, MPD made 481 arrests including 119 narcotics related arrests, more than 100 traffic violation arrests, and closed one homicide.
“The success of this phase of All Hands on Deck is the result of good community policing efforts,” said Chief Lanier. “Officers knocking on doors, increased foot patrols and handing out flyers has helped spark a stronger collaboration with the community. Re-energizing the community is crucial in deterring crime and creating safer neighborhoods.”
The first three AHOD weekends conducted in June, July and August netted more than 1,500 arrests. Phase V of AHOD is scheduled for December 7 through December 9, 2007.