Press Room

Annapolis Reveals Security Measures: Mayor's Proposals Include Increased Police Presence

By Raymond McCaffrey

The Washington Post
Thursday, August 30, 2007

Annapolis Mayor Ellen O. Moyer has unveiled an array of anti-crime proposals, including longer police shifts, more officers on horseback and motorized scooters, and security cameras at the city's housing projects.

In three public announcements since mid-August, Moyer (D) has outlined her five-point plan. The proposal to reduce the number of police shifts per day from five to three would put more officers on the street at any given time. She is also urging the city's General Assembly representatives to push for legislation establishing harsher penalties on drug dealers in Annapolis.

"We need to be make it very clear that we're doing a variety of different things to secure public safety," Moyer said.

She said that her proposals are not a result of worsening crime. According to police, violent crime in the city dropped 8 percent during the first six months of 2007 compared with the same period in 2006.

Moyer's proposals come as Annapolis and other Maryland jurisdictions are struggling to recruit and retain police personnel as officers continue to be deployed to Iraq through National Guard commitments. The Annapolis police force has had five officers go to Iraq this spring, Moyer said.

"Every police agency is struggling for people now," she said.

Annapolis has 110 officers, Moyer said, about 22 fewer than the city had budgeted. Still, she said, the city has three police officers per 1,000 residents, well above the national average of one officer per 1,000.

Alderman Sam Shropshire (D-Ward 7) said he is working on legislation to boost recruitment efforts by allowing the city to help recruits buy housing. One method might involve the city assisting with down payments, he said.

"We're competing with the war in Iraq for recruiting," he said.

Moyer also wants the police to buy more Segways, which she said will allow officers to patrol more ground. She also wants the police to add at least one mounted patrol unit.

"An officer on a horse is worth 10 officers on foot," Moyer said.

She has asked city police to launch a new drugs and guns task force with state and federal agencies. She also wants the state legislature to designate Annapolis a "drug-free zone," a move that would increase penalties for drug dealing. Saying drug addiction is the root of much of the city's crime, particularly robberies and burglaries, Moyer is seeking state funds for drug treatment.

"These are people who need some instant things to feed their drug habit," she said.

Moyer wants the police and the city's quasi-governmental housing authority to work together to install security cameras and develop substations at the city's 10 public housing complexes. She also questioned why the housing authority hasn't used $200,000 in earmarked city money to hire off-duty officers to patrol the projects.

The authority's primary source of funding is the federal government.

"I'm looking for a little bit of partnership here," Moyer said.

Eric Brown, executive director of the housing authority, said he hopes to meet with Moyer to discuss the proposals. Brown said that the authority has pushed for some measures, such as security cameras. But he said the authority hasn't spent the city's $200,000 because it's difficult to find officers willing to work off duty in the housing projects.

Brown said he doesn't view the mayor's proposals as criticism.

"I do believe that it appears to me that the mayor is trying to refocus her public safety initiatives," he said.