D.C. Police Plan $3M Neighborhood Anti-Gang Effort

D.C. police will spend $3 millionon an anti-gang initiative focused on the 3rd Police District, where 11 people have been shot and wounded since Oct. 1.

The 3rd District covers Columbia Heights, Mount Pleasant and nearby neighborhoods.

The initiative, announced at a news conference this afternoon, includes $1.2 million for community outreach programs and $1.8 million to install ShotSpotter gunshot sensors on rooftops in the area. The gunshot sensors detect the sound of fired weapons and can immediately triangulate the location of the gunfire and notify police. Police also will reorganize their gang intervention unit.

D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), who represents Columbia Heights, described the gang situation in the neighborhood as "red hot."

The news conference with D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) and Graham came after the city's 170th homicide of the year on Monday, more than the total for all of last year.

"We want to make sure the neighborhoods in the District of Columbia are as peaceful as possible," said Fenty, speaking at Harvard Street and Georgia Avenue NW. "Many people who live here say there's too much crime, especially recently."