ARLINGTON COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT

2012

2012

ANNUAL REPORT

ANNUAL A MESSAGE FROM CHIEF SCOTT TABLE OF CONTENTS

A Message from Chief Scott P.1 Core Principles P.2 Facts and Figures P.3 2012 Crime Statistics P.4 Crime Overview P.5 Crime Trends P.6 National Comparison P.7

REPORT Greetings citizens and welcomed visitors to Arlington County, Virginia. It is my pleasure to present you with the 2012 Annual Report for the Arlington County Police Department. This report is an opportunity to learn about our agency’s work, revisit important activities from the past year, and learn ways to keep yourself safe from crime. Arlington County continues to benefit from historic lows in terms of overall crime in 2012. Statistics show that we are a safe community in which to live, work, and visit. In fact, the crime rate dropped 2.08% in 2012. Data shows we experienced less crime in several offense types, including robberies, aggravated assaults and larcenies. When compared to the national average, crime is significantly lower in our community.

Traffic Safety P.8-9 Significant Achievements P.10-12 Community Recommendations P.13 Contact Us P.14

As outlined in this report, you will see how successful several programs have been throughout the course of 2012, including the “Chooser Cruiser” Deter Drunk Driving Campaign, PhotoRED Light, and combating vehicle thefts. It is my pledge that the Police Department will focus on reducing the incidence of crime and improving the quality of life in Arlington County. This can be achieved through fostering interaction and cooperation between police, community, and government, all the while promoting development of community-based partnerships and problem solving strategies. M. Douglas Scott Chief of Police

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ARLINGTON COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

ANNUAL REPORT

2012

CORE PRINCIPLES Courage We are willing to confront internal and external challenges. We recognize the dangers inherent in our profession and are willing to place the safety of others above that of our own.

Integrity We are committed to the highest standards of honesty and ethical conduct which are the cornerstones of our profession.

Competence Restraint We will be knowledgeable and proficient in the performance of our job responsibilities. We will assess our actions to improve performance.

We exercise self-discipline and control at all times to model behavior for our peers and community.

Commitment

Respect

We pledge to fulfill our mission by being accountable to our community, the Department, and to each other.

We recognize the authority we hold and treat others as we would like to be treated. We faithfully and without bias, honor our obligations to the community.

Compassion We care about the well-being of all members of our Department and community. We treat each person with dignity and respect.

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ARLINGTON COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

ACPD offers free child safety seat inspections! Call 703.228.BABY (2229).

ACPD has officers proficient in 14 languages and American Sign Language allowing us to effectively meet the needs of Arlington’s diverse population.

FACTS AND FIGURES Item

2012

Arlington Population

212,800

FY2012 Revised Budget

58,455,408

ACPD Authorized Sworn Force

358

ACPD Civilian (FT Equivalency)

117

Square Miles Patrolled

26

Calls for Service*

80,872

Felony Arrests

1,241

Misdemeanor Arrests

3,917

Traffic Accidents

3,098

Traffic Citations

56,437

*Non-administrative calls

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2012

ARLINGTON COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

2012 CRIME STATISTICS

CRIME CATEGORY

# of OFFENSES in 2012

(Part I OFFENSES Only)

(January 1 - December 31)

Homicide

5

Rape

31

Robbery

117

Aggravated Assault

131

Burglary

286

Larceny

3333

Motor Vehicle Theft

181

Total Part I Offenses

4084

Arlington County Crime Solvers Offers cash rewards for crime tips! To report anonymous information on crime, call 866.411.TIPS (8477). You do not have to provide your name.

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2012

ARLINGTON COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

CRIME OVERVIEW

Register your bicycle online through the ACPD website!!! You will receive a decal approximately one week later via mail. REMEMBER…….. Chapter 14.2-64 of the Arlington County Code requires that all bicycle riders age 14 and younger wear approved bicycle helmets.

The 2012 annual crime report focuses on Part I offenses as defined by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Part I offenses are separated into two categories, crimes against person and crimes against property. Crimes against persons include: homicide; rape; robbery; and aggravated assault. Crimes against property include: burglary; larceny; and motor vehicle theft.

Part I Offenses 2007-2012 6000 5000

Did you know?

You can report a non-emergency incident occurring in Arlington County online through the Arlington County Police Department Online Police Reporting System. http://www.arlingtonva .us/departments/police/ incident/new/startreport.html

4000 3000

2000 1000 0 2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

In 2012, Arlington County saw a 2.08% reduction in Part I offenses, recording 4,084 offenses versus 4,169 offenses in 2011. This is the fourth consecutive year that Arlington County has seen a reduction in Part I offenses and the lowest number of offenses recorded in the last six years.

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In 2012, Arlington County experienced several reductions in crime rates. There was a 13.34% decrease in robberies, an 8.39% cut in aggravated assaults, and a 2.08% reduction in larcenies. However, there were increases in all other crimes. While these increases in crime are present, they are still at a record-low for a jurisdiction of this population in the United States. The overall crime rate for 2012 is lower than 2011, and still below that of 2010. The number of crimes related to driving under the influence (DUI) has increased by 47.80% since 2010 and by 15.80% since 2011. The Arlington County Police Department will continue to work hard to combat crime and reduce recidivism.

ARLINGTON COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT CRIME TRENDS VIOLENT CRIMES 2011 - 2012

PROPERTY CRIMES 2011 - 2012

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ARLINGTON COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT NATIONAL COMPARISON CRIME RATE PER 100,000 PEOPLE 3500

3295 2908.7

3000

2500

2000

Violent 1591.1 1455.6

1500

Property Total

1000

500

386.3 135.5

0

National

Arlington County

The crime rate per 100,000 residents is significantly lower in Arlington County compared to the national average. The violent crime rate in Arlington County is 64.9 % below the national average, with 386.3 violent crimes per 100,000 people nationally, compared to only 135.5 violent crimes per 100,000 people in Arlington County. The property crime rate in Arlington County is 49.9 % below the national average, with 2,908.7 incidents of property crime per 100,000 people nationally, compared to 1,455.6 incidents of property crime per 100,000 people in Arlington County. *National figures based on the 2011 FBI Uniform Crime Report, the most recent statistics available at time of publication.

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ARLINGTON COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

TRAFFIC SAFETY

Annual Report 2012

PhotoRed Light Program The Arlington County Red-Light Safety program is composed of four camera systems that monitor 14 lanes at 4 different approaches. These intersections include northbound North Glebe Road and North Fairfax Drive, northbound North Lynn Street and eastbound Lee Highway, westbound Washington Boulevard and Lee Highway, and southbound Fort Myer Drive and westbound Lee Highway. Between July of 2010 and December of 2012, the red light cameras at these intersections have documented that 32,317 total citations were issued due to red light violations. After a year of ticketing at these designated locations, there was a 50% decrease in red light violations occurring 1.5 seconds after the light turned red. Additionally, from June 21, 2010 to December 31, 2012, 96.5% of red light violators did not run a red light at these same intersections again after receiving a citation. With this documented success and reduction in recidivism, Arlington County has decided to implement new red light cameras that will begin monitoring new intersections in spring of 2013.

ACPD Makes Accident Reports Available Online The Arlington County Police Department is digitizing accident reports through a partnership with the Carfax Police Crash Assistance Program. The reports are stored electronically in a secure database and are available for purchase on the Police Department website at www.arlingtonva.us/police. Citizens and insurance companies may purchase the accident reports online for incidents occurring on or after September 1, 2012. Reports will be available within 5-7 business days after the accident. Citizens will continue to have the option of coming to the Police Department to obtain a copy of the accident report at the Records Management Unit during normal business hours or by requesting the report through U.S. mail.

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ARLINGTON COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

Annual Report

TRAFFIC SAFETY

2012

THE “CHOOSER CRUISER” On November 20, 2012 during a news conference in front of the County Courthouse in Arlington, Virginia, the Arlington County Police Department in conjunction with Arlington’s Red Top Cab and the Northern Virginia-based nonprofit Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) unveiled a new, innovative and specially-outfitted motor vehicle designed to deter impaired driving in the Washington, D.C. metro area. This vehicle was designed to serve as a poignant reminder during the holiday season that every drunk driving incident is 100% preventable. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration figures, there are 40% and 60% spikes in alcohol-related traffic fatalities during Christmas and New Year’s, respectively. The “Chooser Cruiser” was deployed throughout the metro area during the Holiday Season, in concert with SoberRide®, WRAP’s free cab ride service to prevent drunk driving. Northern Virginia’s new “Chooser Cruiser” received considerable public/ media attention: 

Featured in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s national crackdown news conference on December 13, 2012 in Washington, D.C. featuring both U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and NHTSA Administrator David Strickland



Media touted that “the Chooser Cruiser is a public-private partnership. The two sectors share an interest in reducing the carnage on the highways,” by the Richmond Times-Dispatch in their photographic December 1, 2012 editorial



Hailed as a “useful reminder of the costs of drunk driving” by The Washington Post in their November 23, 2012 editorial

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ARLINGTON COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

Arlington County Crime Solvers Present First Annual Detective of the Year Award

On May 2nd, 2012 the Arlington County Crime Solvers presented Detective Christine Everest and Officer James O’Daniel of Arlington County Police Department with the first annual “Detective of the Year” Award. The Detective of the Year Award is presented to a sworn officer within the Arlington County Police Department that:    

Exhibited a high level of personal achievement Demonstrated exemplary leadership skills Made significant contributions over the course of the previous year Impacted the Arlington County community by making it safer from their efforts

Detective Everest and Officer O’Daniel were recognized for their relentless commitment during 2011 to address financial scams and fraud targeting the elderly. Both officers worked diligently to identify and arrest criminals who took advantage of the elderly population. Through a combination of the countless hours spent with victims, their investigative instincts, vigilance, and dedication, these officers were credited with protecting the elderly population against scam artists. In addition to assisting the unfortunate victims that were manipulated out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, they educated citizens throughout the County on solicitors who target and exploit vulnerable and elderly residents. At the conclusion of the award ceremony, Arlington County Chief of Police M. Douglas Scott commented, “we appreciate Arlington County Crime Solvers recognizing the outstanding efforts of Detective Everest and Officer O’Daniel, in addition to their commitment to assisting the Arlington County Police Department with the determent of crime.”

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Annual Report 2012

ARLINGTON COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS AUTO UNIT:

National Capital Region License Plate Reader (NCP LPR) Awards: 1st Quarter: Detective Scott Whalin – for locating a stolen car driven by a wanted Burglary and Grand Larceny suspect. Detective Scott Whalin then contacted Virginia State Police where a pursuit was initiated resulting with the suspect being charged with Attempted Capital Murder of a Police Officer, Eluding, and Reckless Driving. 3rd Quarter: Detective Mohammed Tabibi – for utilizing the LPR server to locate a wanted subject who had just committed a Robbery and Malicious Wounding in Fairfax County. The suspect was tracked through Washington, D.C. and into Arlington County where a felony stop was conducted. Burglary Unit: Significant arrests that closed several cases. Detectives involved: Detectives Patricia Pena, Joseph McGrath, and Timothy Parsons – While taking a report of a late burglary involving several stolen items to include a wallet, Officer David Martin noticed a juvenile neighbor exhibiting suspicious behavior. As the case was investigated further, a credit card belonging to the burglary victim was used. Video obtained from a store showed the juvenile and an unknown suspect using the stolen card. Corporal Kevin Treakle, the suspect's School Resource Officer, was able to confirm the identity of the juvenile suspect. The suspect was arrested and interviewed by Detective Patricia Pena and Detective Timothy Parsons, which led to a confession of approximately 20 residential burglaries. Following the execution of a search warrant on the juvenile’s residence, additional information on a suspect was found. A second juvenile suspect was later identified and a search warrant was executed at his residence. During this search, two adult suspects attempted to flee, but were detained. They were later identified as the suspect’s parents. A search of the residence found that it was used as a document mill. An adult male was arrested for production of counterfeit government documents. During his interview, he indicated that he created upwards of 400 fraudulent cards. Multiple charges have been filed in this case and it is ongoing.

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SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS Homicide/Robbery Unit: Homicide - On December 29, 2009, at 2:50 am, patrol units responded to a report of a man down. Upon arriving, officers located the body of 57 year old Carl Diener lying on N. 13th Street. The scene revealed that the decedent was stabbed and suffered other assault-type injuries. The neighborhood was canvassed for witnesses, forensic processing of the scene was thoroughly completed, and video from local businesses were painstakingly collected and reviewed. Lead Detective Rosa Ortiz began a comprehensive investigation with help from fellow Homicide Unit detectives, State, local, and federal jurisdiction law enforcement agencies. After an extensive investigation with considerable assistance from the Medical Examiner's Office and the Department of Forensic Sciences Lab, a DNA hit was received from the pocket of the victim's sweatpants. This led investigators to the identity and arrest of Roger K. Clark III, of Severn, Maryland. Further investigation led to the identity and arrest of a second suspect, Javon Martin, of Washington D.C. Roger Clark III subsequently entered a guilty plea to 1st Degree Murder in the stabbing death of Carl Diener. Javon Martin was found guilty of 1st degree murder during a jury trial in February of 2013. James Caroline Indicted on Capital Murder and Weapons Charges On December 17, 2012 an Arlington County Grand Jury indicted James Sylvester Caroline on capital murder and weapons charges for the July 27, 2012 murder of Arlington jeweler Tommy Kin Mo Wong. Wong was found shot to death behind the counter of his Columbia Pike jewelry store early on the morning of July 28th after family members called police to report that Wong had not returned home after work. An investigation by Homicide/Robbery Unit detectives led to the arrest of Caroline five days later. On April 17th, 2013James Sylvester Caroline entered an Alford Plea to Capital Murder and the Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony for the murder and robbery. Chief Circuit Court Judge William T. Newman, Jr. accepted this plea and sentenced Mr. Caroline to life without parole at any age and an additional three years on the Use of a Firearm conviction.

Arlington County Police Department

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COMMUNITY SAFETY TIPS

TIRE & RIM THEFT PREVENTION TIPS: 1. Park in well-lit areas 2. Try to park in high-traffic areas 3. If you have the option of parking in a garage or outside, always choose the garage 4. Use tire locks 5. Use lug nut locks http://www.watchyourcar.org/PROTECTYOURVEHICLE/50tipsforAuto TheftPrevention.aspx This site shows a detailed demonstration of vehicle theft prevention tips.

RUNNING/WALKING TIPS: 1. Run, walk or bike ride with a friend or your dog 2. Try to run, walk, or ride your bike in populated areas in the daylight hours 3. Make sure you bring a cell phone 4. Familiarize yourself with the various routes you take, and avoid areas that you don’t know 5. If you choose to run, walk, or ride your bike in the evening hours, remember to wear light clothing and have reflective material or lights. 6. If you listen to music, make sure you leave on ear open 7. Tell someone where you will be going and what time you expect to be back before you leave A video with these safety tips can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTXF46go-eY

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CONTACT US Arlington County Police Department 1425 N. Courthouse Road Arlington, Virginia 22201 Emergencies: 911 Non-Emergencies: 703-558-2222 Telephone Reporting Unit: 703-228-4300 [email protected]

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