Public safety town hall

Participants in a virtual town hall meeting discuss public safety.

Hilary Roggio Raftovich, Annapolis constituent services officer and ombudsman, moderated the meeting. Speakers were Mayor Gavin Buckley, Police Chief Edward Jackson, Alderman Fred Paone, Scott Gibson, Admiral Heights Improvement Association president, Bob Waldman, Germantown-Homewood Association president, and Major Paul Herman, deputy chief of police.

They discussed recent violence. Buckley said three killers and several shooters were arrested and guns confiscated. Jackson expects more arrests soon. The police have given up vacation time to work with other law enforcement organizations and break crime cycles.

“The police have done an amazing job,” Buckley said. “Keep up the good work, and let us know what we can do to support you,” Waldman concurred.

Violent crimes are up. “Why?” According to Jackson, coronavirus pandemic, heat wave, racism, protests, unemployment, revenge, turf wars, addiction, alcoholism, mental illness, poverty, lack of education, bad choices, lack of opportunities, ongoing feuds, hopelessness … all contribute.

But Paone says public safety is “good” in District 2. Citizens report suspicious activity to the police. “Crooks don’t go in neighborhoods where they expect to get caught,” Paone says.

Jackson has a community policing strategy. It calls for young people to make better choices and earn GEDs (a “high school equivalency diploma”) and volunteers to use their time and talents to break the crime cycle. Police will engage with Annapolitans through community patrols and programs.

To view this meeting, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPWTASsvz28.