Prince George's Lays Out a Plan To Reduce Crime

Officials Respond to Surge in Violence

Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson and Police Chief Melvin C. High attempted to reassure residents yesterday that although violent crime is surging in the county, the police department has a plan to address it.

"The citizens need to know this isn't a hodgepodge," Johnson said. "We have a comprehensive plan."

At an afternoon news conference, the county's top elected official and the police chief detailed police initiatives and task forces that focus on specific areas, including the sometimes dangerous border corridor near the District. Johnson noted that many of the initiatives, including one to address a growing gang problem, have been in place for several months, and he said residents have to be patient to give the plan time to work.

"We have a plan designed for long-term success," he said. "Our citizens understand this. They understand this will not happen overnight. I will not waver to get results.

"At the end of the year, we'll see where we are," he said.

The county officials explained the plan hours after three people were shot in Prince George's, including a 17-year-old. The teenager was paralyzed by the gunfire, according to a police source who did not want to be identified because the cases are still open.

Additionally, a man who was shot early yesterday was dropped off at Prince George's Hospital Center, although investigators have not determined whether he was shot in the county or in the District, police said.

This year, homicides and rapes are each up 28 percent from the same time last year, carjackings have increased 45 percent and robberies are up 127 percent, according to police data.

Johnson tried to cast the statistics in a positive light, saying that although crime is higher now than it was last year, the numbers have been stable for the past two months. "Violent crime is not accelerating," he said. "The last two months have taken us to a place where we are not rising anymore."

Elements of the plan include hiring more police officers for the chronically short-staffed department, focusing on "hot spot" high crime areas, targeting car thieves and working with federal agents from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Additionally, the department started a task force last week to combat robberies. Task force members will work with parole and probation officers to monitor past offenders in an effort to keep them from committing more crimes.

High attributed the sharp jump in robberies this year to criminals' "economic issues," such as addicts stealing money to buy drugs.