[Scan-DC] MPD Set to Transfer PSA 306 to Second District

[Alan Henney]

-----Original Message----- 
From: Palmer, Kevin (MPD) [mailto:kevin.palmer at dc.gov]
Sent: Fri 8/31/2007 3:08 PM
Subject: NEWS RELEASE: MPD Set to Transfer PSA 306 to Second District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: (202) 727-4383

August 30, 2007

MPD Set to Transfer PSA 306 to Second District

(WASHINGTON, DC) — The Metropolitan Police Department announced today
that its proposed transfer of a portion of the Third Police District
to the Second District will take effect Sunday, September 2. Police
Service Area (PSA) 306 will be renamed PSA 208 and transferred
administratively to the Second Police District. The move comes as a
response to an increase in calls for service in the Third District and
will benefit residents by improving response time by enabling better
management of call volume. The physical boundaries of the police
service area will remain the same, but the organizational change will
enable better coordination of service, communication, and management
of resources.

This change will help to resolve a workload imbalance between the
Second District (2D), which handles just 4.5% of “Priority 1”
(emergency) calls, and the Third District (3D), which currently
accounts for over 21% of these calls. Similarly, 3D has 24.2% of the
violent crime in the city, while 2D accounts for 3.2%. As the number
of calls for service has increased in the Third District, the amount
of radio traffic has increased exponentially, reducing the
effectiveness of police communications. Additionally, the strain on
structural resources such as the use of district lockup facilities,
report-writing rooms, and other elements of the police stations is
similarly imbalanced in the present arrangement. Managerial resources
will also be improved in the new scenario.

Chief Cathy L. Lanier said the move will help improve police service
across the city and resolve a potential danger to community members
and police officers who could not communicate due to the strained
radio frequency in 3D.  “This move will improve police service to that
area of the city. Residents will receive a faster response to their
9-1-1 calls and officers will be better able to service residents. The
change will also make our officers safer and allow for more proactive
policing. Ultimately, it will be to a greater efficiency of the
Department and improve public safety overall.”

The planned move will transfer a total of 78 to the Second District.
It is important to note that the police coverage in this part of the
city will remain nearly identical to what exists today; the change is
strictly an organizational one. Residents who have grown familiar with
the officers assigned to their beat will continue to see many of the
same members patrolling their communities. The benefit will be an
equalized workload and improved communication at the police district
level.

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