Operation Heatwave: PG County Aims To Lower Homicide Rates

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — With society reopening and temperatures rising, one thing also on the rise in Prince George’s County is the homicide rate.

As of Monday, the county has already seen 63 homicides this year, according to Prince George’s County Police Department data. The number of homicides reported to date is nearly double from this time last year, officials said.

Although the coronavirus pandemic could have played a role in last year’s lower homicide rate, this year’s homicide rate is already close to reaching the 75 total homicides in 2019, county officials said.

In an effort to decrease the sudden rise in crimes within the county, Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and acting police chief Malik Aziz have introduced a summer crime initiative called “Operation Heatwave.”

The county officials announced the program will focus on reducing violent crimes, enhancing community engagement, emphasizing crime prevention, and engaging with youth and senior citizens. The initiative will last throughout the summer, concluding on Sept. 7.

Aziz said the police department will focus on working with the community to limit crime and make Prince George’s County a safer place. The “Operation Heatwave” will be one of his first big initiatives as the head of the Prince George’s County Police Department.

“This 50/50 partnership that the police have with the community, it's not too heavy on either side, but we intend to join together to drive down these types of crimes. What I see is violent crimes during the summer because that is really the most important aspect of how we keep the community safe,” Aziz said in the virtual town hall.

The new initiative will include weekly operational meetings, community neighborhood walks with the police, and tracking target crime areas.

Alsobrooks noted in the virtual town hall the county officials will center their attention on Langley Park, Lewisdale, Riverdale, Suitland, Seat Pleasant, and Temple Hills.

With Aziz’s attempt to keep the county safe, he asked members of the community to hold each other accountable by reporting what they know to the police because in the end, the initiative is for them.

Aziz said, “The best eyes and ears that we have is the community, so the plan revolves around the community.”