County Executive, Chief High Announce Crime Fighting Initiatives (video included)

Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson and Police Chief Melvin High, will work with federal officials from the FBI, DEA and ATF to help implement the new crime fighting initiatives. Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson said crime will not be tolerated in the county and he will work with every law enforcement agency to ensure the safety of the citizens and residents of this county.

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UPPER MARLBORO, MD – In the wake of his mid-term speech in which he said crime would not be tolerated in the county, Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson joined Police Chief Melvin High to announce several new crime fighting initiatives.

“Let me serve notice to those who will disrupt or destroy the lives of hard-working, law-abiding citizens of this county, I will use every means at my disposal to ensure the safety and well being of the citizens and residents of this county,” Johnson said.  “Prince George’s County will not be a place where criminal activity is tolerated.  I will be working with every law enforcement agency to find these people and remove them from our community.”

Chief High announced five new initiatives.  The Violence Prevention Task Force, the Most Wanted Offender Initiative, the Report A Gun Program, the Handgun Tracking and Tracing Team and the High Intensity Traffic Stops Program.

To help implement these programs, Johnson and High said the county police will continue their partnerships with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

“Our officers are working diligently to solve these crimes and we are happy to be working with all of our partners, government agencies, federal agencies, and our citizens and residents, to ensure livable communities in Prince George’s County, ” High said.

Johnson also reiterated his message to the owners of 10 apartment complexes that together have generated 117,000 911 calls for police in 2004. 

“You must and you will provide a safe, secure and aesthetically pleasing home environment that you and your family would want to live in and that the hard-working people of Prince George’s County deserve,” Johnson said.  “If you don’t, we will use every means at our disposal to close you down.”

Despite the rise in homicides last year, Johnson reminded everyone that overall crime has not risen in the county.

“We want to put it in perspective that overall crime is not up in Prince George’s County, but it’s still not where we want to be,” Johnson said.

According to police department figures, overall crime rose 0.5% between 2003 and 2004, supporting Johnson’s claim that crime is flat in the county.

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