(9-13-23) MPD Brightwood Community Walk with Commander Lavenhouse and Office Hamrick

Kim Patterson
Sep 12, 2023
3 min read

Hi Brightwood:

I want to thank Commander Lavenhouse, Fourth District Commander | mpdc (and her assistant, Melissa), Officer Hamrick, Officer Johnson, and all the other 4D policemen, including the MPD Bike Patrol, who walked areas of concern today in Brightwood. I also want to thank CM Lewis George's staffers, Barbara Rogers and Charnisa Royster, and Derek Johnson of the Mayor's Office of Community Relations and Service (Ward 4). Additionally, I want to thank our Brightwood neighbors, Anitha, Marianne, John, and a few others who participated in the walk.

Today's walk began at Rittenhouse and Georgia (6200 block) and continued down the 12th Street and Georgia Ave alley. We discussed poor alley lighting, lack of cameras, Dept of Buildings violations, trash, and illegal dumping violations.

Next, we walked to the 1000 block of Sheridan, where the drug market is located and where men under the influence continually hang out day and night and block the sidewalk. MUCH was discussed about the selling and using drugs on this block and how these men block the sidewalk and/or make it highly unpleasant even to dare to walk by. We then went to the BP Gas Station, where MPD spoke with the employees about crime related to the men who hang out across the street on Sheridan.

NEXT STEPS: I requested a CCTV camera be placed on Georgia & Sheridan. I learned that Ward 4 only has 2 CCTV cameras and may get two more, but all of these cameras are designated to areas in Ward 4 with documented violent crime. Commander Lavenhouse suggested that homeowners and businesses install private cameras, which are helpful because they focus on one site, unlike CCTV cameras, which are roaming. All police officers who participated in the walk were aware of the group of men on Sheridan, and some approached them. MPD shared the DC Law below that states that it is illegal to crowd, obstruct, or incommode any street, alley, road, or sidewalk. Since it is difficult for MPD to catch someone selling drugs, this law could help remove the group of men from the area of Sheridan. So, when you see these men crowding/obstructing the sidewalk on the 1000 block of Sheridan, call 4D and cite the law below. Regarding drug use and dealing in this area, MPD is very aware of this situation, and I am hopeful they will act to reduce/eliminate it from our community.

Code of the District of Columbia § 22–1307. Crowding, obstructing, or incommoding.

(a) It is unlawful for a person, alone or in concert with others:

(1) To crowd, obstruct, or incommode:

(A) The use of any street, avenue, alley, road, highway, or sidewalk;

(B) The entrance of any public or private building or enclosure;

(C) The use of or passage through any public building or public conveyance; or

(D) The passage through or within any park or reservation; and

(2) To continue or resume the crowding, obstructing, or incommoding after being instructed by a law enforcement officer to cease the crowding, blocking, or incommoding.

(b)(1) It is unlawful for a person, alone or in concert with others, to engage in a demonstration in an area where it is otherwise unlawful to demonstrate and to continue or resume engaging in a demonstration after being instructed by a law enforcement officer to cease engaging in a demonstration.

(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term "demonstration" means marching, congregating, standing, sitting, lying down, parading, demonstrating, or patrolling by one or more persons, with or without signs, to persuade one or more individuals, or the public, or to protest some action, attitude, or belief.

(c) A person who violates any provision of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than the amount outlined in § 22-3571.01, imprisoned for not more than 90 days, or both.

After we left the BP Gas Station and Sheridan, we went to the 6200 block of Georgia, and MPD went into every storefront on the side of Georgia where Domino's is located. The Commander and Officers spoke to each business owner and listened to their concerns. We concluded our walk, where it began on Rittenhouse and Georgia. I have more to share, but doing so would make this email way too lengthy. I am happy to organize another walk in a different part of Brightwood in a couple of months, depending on the availability of MPD. In the meantime, please send me any questions, and I will respond to you privately. MPD Fourth District 6001 Georgia Avenue, NW Phone: (202) 715-7400 TTY: (202) 722-1791 Private Security Camera System Incentive Program | ovsjg (dc.gov)