A Seven Year Lift

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker Reports Violent Crime in the County Has Dropped to a Seven-Year Low 

By Hamil R. Harris

 It was the kind of news that we can all live with.

“We have seen an incredible reduction in both violent crime and the volume of crimes in Prince George’s County,” County Executive Rushern Baker III said in a Jan. 8 statement. “This reduction in crime is a key reason for the county’s economic success that has contributed to our leading the region and state in job growth, subsequent state-best increase in our residential and commercial property values as well as improving our quality of life.”

Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker III  PHOTO: GERALD BARNES

In a press conference at police headquarters, Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski said  an 18 percent drop in homicides and drop in other crime areas is due to the evolution of a different  strategy in policing that “incorporates property crime, violent and fatal collisions” and because his department is preparing a “good case” in court.

But State's Attorney Angela D. Alsobrooks said during the press conference that proper preparation wouldn’t make any difference if her department didn’t have the right relationship with our community.

“There was a time not long ago when we put up cases that we thought were rock solid, we could have video, witnesses and got “not guilty” verdicts because the community didn’t trust us,” Alsobrooks said. “The smartest thing that has happened the last seven years is that all of us are present in the community. People know us and that has been so important.”

Alsobrooks said that is why she shows up at churches, mosques and every place we find people.

“The best thing has not just been technology but really strong relations in our community.”