The basement of Florida Avenue Baptist Church was filled with cheers and applause as the LeDroit Park Civic Association held their monthly meeting last week.
The civic association’s mission is to get citizens involved in the community and to foster an open discussion about what’s happening and ways to improve the overall image of LeDroit Park.
To the members of the civic association, the most important reason to speak out was the issue of public safety.
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) 3rd District Commander Jacob Kishter and fellow police officers came to update the community on the local crime report and to urge them to continue to keep the police abreast of any situation that occurs in the area and makes them feel unsafe.
In recent years, the crime in LeDroit Park has fluctuated with robberies and assaults plaguing the community, but increased foot police force and citizens calling in to complain has caused a steady decrease in crime.
“Thanks to the calls, e-mails and observations, we were able to secure a search warrant for a ‘nuisance property,’ which was acting as a gambling house on 2015 4th Street NW. A warrant was issued and two arrests of persons living in the house were made,” Kishter said.
“Please continue to call whenever you see or hear something that you think may be questionable. That is the only way we can ensure your safety.”
Margot Hoerrner, a 40-year-old resident of LeDroit Park, said, “I come because I want to be involved in the decision of my community. My main concern is public safety. I want to be able to see the police doing there job so I can feel safe and secure.”
Sergeant Jackson of the Police Service Area (PSA) 305 reported that overall crime is down by 54 percent in LeDroit Park and there were only about10 crimes - three violent and seven property crimes - from December 2009 to February 2010.
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