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Ward in Pr. George's Has Drop in Arrests 
Police Diligence Dwindling, Some Say 

By Jamie Stockwell
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, August 10, 2001; Page B04 

Arrests and traffic stops in one of Prince George's County's busiest
police districts dropped 19 percent and 37 percent respectively for 
the first two months of this year, even as violent crime continued to
climb, according to internal police department memos.

The memos detail arrest and traffic stop data in the county's police
District 4, which includes Oxon Hill and areas of the county that abut
Southern Avenue, along the border between Prince George's and the
District.

While the total number of arrests fell 19 percent -- to 545 for the 
first two months of this year, down from 671 for the same period last 
year -- individual categories showed more significant drops. The 
number of felony adult arrests fell 38 percent, and the number of
misdemeanor adult arrests fell 28 percent. In contrast, the number of
arrests based on outstanding warrants decreased 2 percent.

In the same police district, traffic stops fell 37 percent, to 
1,884 for January and February of this year, compared with 2,986 
for the first two months of last year. From January to February, the
number of stops dropped 29 percent. Traffic citations and warnings 
also fell 33 percent and 36 percent respectively, according to the 
memos.

The slowdown comes as violent crime in the county is surging: The 
number of homicides this year, 62, is just 9 fewer than for last 
year. Carjackings have nearly doubled. And robberies are up 37 percent.

The memos, covering the latest months for which statistics could be
obtained, appear to support reports by officers who said many police 
are participating in an informal but widespread slowdown.

On Tuesday, the county's director of public safety, Fred Thomas, 
disputed the assertion that officers are engaged in a slowdown and 
said there had been no drop in arrests and traffic stops.

Police Chief John S. Farrell has not returned repeated phone calls. 
But he said through his lead spokesman, Royce D. Holloway, that an
incident at a strip mall yesterday in which an off-duty detective 
caught a man who had taken clothes and money from a store should
"demonstrate that the officers are out there working and that they are
continuing to do their job," despite reports of an unofficial slowdown.

Holloway said Farrell went to the scene to "demonstrate that the chief
does support the men. He's out there praising them for the good work
they're doing, for the good work they continue to do."

"Our officers are professional and of course by the nature of their 
jobs they are very stressed, and despite the intense media coverage, 
they continue to provide services to the community."

Holloway said arrest and traffic stop data for all six police 
districts would be released only under a Freedom of Information 
Act request. 

A request was filed last week, and the county has 30 days to respond.

(article snipped)

Officers have discussed the slowdown openly with colleagues. In an 
April letter that circulated among the department's patrol officers --
roughly two-thirds of the 1,400-member force -- an officer advised: 
"go on every call dispatched. Don't volunteer for calls. . . . Just
because the dispatcher says priority doesn't mean you have to turn 
on your lights. . . . No unnecessary arrests. No tickets. . . . No 
chases, let them go. Suspects fleeing on foot, let them go."

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http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56195-2001Aug9.html