Cpl. Danita Ingram, Coronavirus Roundtable, Police Body Cams, Kirwan Commission Bill Changes, Durant Documentary

Off Duty Prince George’s County Police Detective Found Dead At Home

The Prince George’s County Police Department is mourning the loss of an off-duty detective who passed away earlier today at her home in Waldorf.

In a news release, the department said first responders were called to Cpl. Danita Ingram’s home for a reported medical emergency March 4. Despite their efforts, Ingram died shortly thereafter.

“Our police family is deeply saddened at the loss of Corporal Ingram. She served this community and agency for more than a decade. She will be missed,” Chief Hank Stawinski said in the release. “On behalf of the entire Prince George’s County Police Department, I extend our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved her.”

The 51-year-old detective joined the department in 2008. She leaves behind three sons and a daughter.

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Hoyer, Brown Host Roundtable On Coronavirus

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) and Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) hosted a roundtable discussion on the coronavirus and steps that municipalities are taking to protect citizens from the public health emergency. On Mar. 4, the House of Representatives passed legislation to provide $8.3 billion to states, communities, and federal agencies to help contain the spread of coronavirus and prevent further loss of life. The Senate passed the funding bill Mar. 5, and it is headed to the President’s desk for his signature.

"I appreciated the opportunity to meet with public health and safety officials as well as educators to discuss what steps the community is already taking to address the threat that coronavirus presents and what additional work will need to be done, said Congressman Hoyer.

"It is critical that we have a comprehensive and unified response," continued Hoyer. "Congressman Brown and I will continue to work with our colleagues at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure Maryland is ready to respond to the coronavirus. I join in thanking medical professionals throughout the region for their diligence and work to keep our communities healthy."

“Preventing the spread of the coronavirus, particularly to at-risk populations, is a serious responsibility we all share. While zero cases have been confirmed in Maryland, my office and I are closely tracking the spread of the coronavirus and working with our partners in state and local governments on prevention and to ensure the safety of all residents,” said Congressman Brown.

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County Council Member Mel Franklin Statement on the Impending Full Deployment of Body Cams For Police And Sherriff’s Office

County public safety leaders, including Police Chief Hank Stawinski and Sheriff Melvin High, announced plans for the full deployment of body worn cameras for patrol officers and deputy sheriffs Mar. 4. Council Member At-Large Mel Franklin issued the following statement:

“I am in full support of the Alsobrooks Administration’s budget proposal for the full deployment of body-worn cameras for the outstanding men and women of the PGPD Bureau of Patrol and the Office of Sheriff Deputies. I have full confidence in Chief Hank Stawinski and Sheriff Melvin High and our public safety leadership team. The vast and overwhelming majority of our patrol officers and deputy sheriffs exhibit high standards of professionalism and excellence each and every day. I believe that the full implementation of body-worn cameras will confirm that fact and further strengthen our residents’ confidence in their public safety officers.”

According to the information provided to the HHSPS Committee, the 900 officers of the PGPD Bureau of Patrol and the 140 deputies of the Office of Sheriff Deputies will wear body-worn cameras by the end of 2020. The funding for this expansion will be proposed in the budget of the County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, which will be proposed to the Prince George’s County Council on or before March 15, 2020.

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Amendments Being Made to the Kirwan Commission State Education Funding Bill

From the publication Maryland Matters: An education reform bill is on a fast-track to passage in the House of Delegates after key subcommittees voted Tuesday in favor of an amended bill ― which slashes county spending obligations.

Their most significant change is an adjustment to proposed education funding formulas that would dramatically reduce the local funding obligations for Baltimore City and Prince George’s County, two jurisdictions that would have been hardest hit by modifications to Maryland’s education funding formula proposed by the Kirwan Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education. Fifteen other counties also would see a reduction in their obligations as a result of the formula changes. Overall, county education spending in the 2030 fiscal year would increase over current levels by about $859.5 million, compared to an earlier calculation of $1.3 billion.

State funding for education would increase by about $2.96 billion annually by 2030 under the amended formula. That represents a $369 million annual increase over previous estimates.

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Durant Documentary: Why Great Basketball Players Come From Prince George’s

NBA MVP Kevin Durant (currently with the Brooklyn Nets) is producing a documentary looking at why Prince George's County produces so many great basketball players, according to news reports.

“In the Water” is the title of the documentary being produced by Durant's Thirty Five Ventures company, entitled according to The Sports Business Journal. The doc focuses on Durant and other players from Prince George’s including University Len Bias and Victor Olapido, the all-star guard for the Pacers.

The project is certain to help put Prince George’s on the national stage.