The Washington Informer - January 9, 2014

Page 13

prince george’s county

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) joined Prince George’s officials in announcing a decline in the County’s crime rates Jan. 2 in Lanham. /Photo Courtesy of Michael Yourishin

CRIMES continued from Page 12 Prince George’s County Police Chief Mark Magaw conceded that police had to rebuild their relationship with the community over the

past few years. “Our relationships were strained in the community,” he said. “Those relationships are much stronger [now] than they’ve been before.” Still, officials said that prog-

ress has also been made in lesser crimes. Magaw boasted a 50 percent decrease in carjackings, a 40 percent decrease in stolen vehicles and a 40 percent decline in robberies since 2010. “… This police department is not yet satisfied and we are not done yet,” Magaw said. “We will continue working every day and night to keep our communities safe.” Baker and Magaw said that turn in crime rates was largely due to increased partnerships with agencies within the county including the Office of the State’s Attorney and the Prince George’s County Sheriff ’s Office. The heads of those agencies began having weekly meetings in 2011 after 13 homicides were committed in the first 12 days of the year. Angela Alsobrooks, State’s Attorney of Prince George’s County, said it’s possible for the county to keep the momentum going. She noted that her office has a 75 percent conviction rate in overall cases, and a 93 percent conviction rate for homicides. “The progress is sustainable and this is not by accident,” she said. “…We’re going to make sure we do our best to send the message that crime in Prince George’s County is not acceptable.” O’Malley applauded the county’s teamwork as a model for how agencies can work together to accomplish goals. “Saving lives is the goal and you’re being successful,” he said. “It’s about the common platform.”wi

AUTOS WANTED We pay up to $350 for junk/unwanted vehicles

Call 202-696-5403

CALL (202) 670-7495

The Prince George’s County Department of Environmental Resources is making it easy for residents to recycle cut Christmas trees (no artificial trees) by offering convenient drop-off locations and curbside pick up.

Beginning December 26, 2013 through February 1, 2014, residents with Yard Waste Collection may place their undecorated, unbagged, live Christmas trees at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on their regularly scheduled yard waste collection day.

*Please remove all plastic bags, tinsel and decorations No artificial trees

Residents may also bring unadorned trees, free of charge, to the following locations for recycling: BROWN STATION ROAD PUBLIC CONVENIENCE CENTER 3501 Brown Station Road Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY YARD WASTE COMPOSTING FACILITY 6601 Southeast Crain Highway Upper Marlboro, Maryland

Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

For more information, please call SOURCE REDUCTION TIP: Save bows, paper and boxes for future gift wrapping!

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The Washington Informer

January 9, - January 15, 2014

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