The Franconia Community Report
August 2021
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Message From the Commander |
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Hi Franconia Community:
Welcome to the August 2021 Franconia Community Report. Some of you are already aware, but my time as the Commander of the Franconia District Station has come to an end. I will be transferring to our Public Safety Headquarters and assuming the command of Division IV of the Patrol Bureau. Division IV covers the Mount Vernon and Franconia police districts, so I won't be too far.
As I reflect on over three years at Franconia, I've been fortunate to meet and develop relationships with so many of you along the way. I am confident that no matter where I am in the Police Department, those relationships will remain firm, and we will keep in contact.
I've had the absolute pleasure to witness the remarkable work of our sworn, professional, and volunteer personnel and their commitment and dedication to the FCPD and our community. We have an exceptional Police Department filled with great people committed to service and a bright future ahead. As a community, everyone faced adversity over the past year and a half, more than most cops may not ever see in a career. Without hesitation, our personnel answered the call, and I am so proud of the Franconia District!
I have one last request; please share our recruiting information www.JoinFCPD.org with your friends, family, neighbors, or anyone you know that may be interested in a career with the FCPD, serving their community. We need your help to continue to recruit the next generation of the FCPD!
The new Commander, Captain James Krause, has committed to continuing our newsletter with the assistance of our dedicated volunteer, John Sherburne, who is the mastermind behind this content. Captain Krause will introduce himself next month, and I am confident you will enjoy the same great relationship with him as he begins this new journey.
Stay well, everyone. Thank you for everything.
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Sincerely,
Greg
Gregory R. Fried, Major
Commander, Patrol Bureau IV
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How are we doing?
Let us know your view of how the Fairfax County Police Department is performing. Click on the button at right to participate in our survey. Submissions can be anonymous.
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The Fairfax County Police Department 2020 Annual Report has been published. The report offers a look back at a difficult year for all. Among other notable accomplishments, Fairfax County emerged from the year with the continued distinction of having the lowest rate of violent crime among jurisdictions of its size.
To view the report, please click HERE.
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Fairfax County has approved a program to offer rental of electric scooters or e-scooters (officially classified as Shared Mobility Devices). The County has approved two companies, LINK and BIRD, to operate rental e-scooters. The first of these, from BIRD, have begun appearing in the county. BIRD will operate 75 scooters as a pilot, mainly in the areas of Chantilly, Reston, Tysons, and West Falls Church. If the pilot is successful, they can operate up to 300 e-scooters in the county. LINK is permitted to also have 300 e-scooters.
Broadly, e-scooters are not considered motor vehicles and are governed by the same rules as bicycles and motorized skateboards except where specific restrictions are posted.
Removal of improperly parked e-scooters is the responsibility of the rental companies. If one is parked on your private property or impedes access you can move it to a more appropriate location yourself or contact the company and request the device be moved. Contact information is provided on each scooter. Police will only be dispatched if the e-scooter impedes traffic or creates a danger.
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Thefts of automobiles have been on the rise throughout the area - due in part to rising used car prices. Car parts are also often the target of thieves. As the average age of vehicles increases, the demand for replacement parts goes up. In addition, some parts are valuable simply for the metals they contain. Here are some targeted parts:
1. Tires and Wheels - With the proper tools, it doesn’t take long to remove a car's tires and wheels and the removal process could damage the vehicle.
2. Tailgates - It may seem unlikely, but tailgates are not an uncommon target of thieves, particularly in locations with a higher density of pickup trucks. Certain truck models have more easily removed tailgates and may need an add-on lock.
3. Batteries - A battery is relatively easy to remove. So, if a thief can find a way to open your vehicle’s hood, there’s a good chance they’ll take your battery.
4. Catalytic Converters -This part of the exhaust system is made of several different metals and may fetch up to $200 from recyclers. Anti-Theft measures include etching the converter with your VIN number, welding it to the frame, or attaching a security device .
5. In-Car Systems - Sound systems, navigation devices and other in-car electronics can be valuable to thieves. That may be true in spite of security systems which lock/disable the stolen electronics.
6. Third Row Seats - Some SUV third row seats can be easily stolen if access to the passenger compartment is available.
7. Air Bags - Even though normally covered by trim, air bags can often be easily removed, sometimes incurring damage to the trim or surrounding area.
Preventing Theft of Car Parts
Most of the theft targets above can be protected - or at least be made more difficult to steal - if the car is locked. An unlocked vehicle provides easy access to hood/trunk releases and to items in the passenger compartment. Locking your car is still the single most important anti-theft measure. Also, parking in well-lit areas that have good visibility and/or surveillance can be a strong deterrent to thieves.
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Crime Prevention Office Events |
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In cooperation with community groups, Franconia District Station is coordinating "Walk & Talk" events throughout the district. The first two are scheduled for:
Clermont Woods, August 10th,
and
Forestdale, August 19th.
In most cases, planned events will include other Public Safety team members such as Fire and Rescue, Sheriff's Office, or Fairfax County Board of Supervisors representatives and Police.
The events are normally from 5:00 to 7:00 PM and are intended to offer a low-stress opportunity for community members to discuss issues and concerns with their public safety representatives.
If you would like your community to be included in these events or for other crime prevention information and assistance, contact the Franconia District Station Crime Prevention Office:
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Community Outreach and Liaison Officer
Crime Prevention Officer
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Click below to visit the Fairfax County Police Department's
Crime Prevention & Awareness page.
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COMMERCIAL BURGLARY: 7015 #103 Old Keene Mill Road (Super Smart Phones), 7/27/21, 12:43 a.m. Someone forced entry into the business and took property.
STOLEN AUTO RECOVERY - ARREST: Old Keene Mill Road at Spring Road, 7/25/21, 1:18 a.m. Officers located a 2021 Chevy Silverado that was reported stolen. A traffic stop was initiated, and the occupants were taken into custody. Jamaal Lowery, 41, of Washington D.C., was charged with grand larceny.
CREDIT CARD FRAUD/WEAPONS VIOLATION - ARREST: 6500 block of Springfield Mall, 7/25/21, 3:47 p.m. A group of four were attempting to make fraudulent purchases with credit cards and ran when officers responded. All four were arrested. Davian McKinnie, 18, of Springfield, was found unlawfully possessing a firearm. He was charged with five counts of credit card larceny, obstruction of justice and illegal possession of concealed weapon. Khye Pollard, 18, of Woodbridge, was charged with credit card larceny. Jaquell Turner, 18, of Manassas, was charged with two counts of credit card larceny. The juvenile was charged with seven counts of credit card larceny, false ID to law enforcement, and obstruction.
COMMERCIAL ROBBERY: 6575 Frontier Drive (LensCrafters), 7/20/21, 3:35 p.m. Four men entered the store, threatened employees and took property before leaving in a car.
RECKLESS DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM/DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY:
6800 Metropolitan Center Drive (Extended Stay America), 7/19/21, 4:01 p.m. Officers responded for reports of gunshots being fired in the building. As officers made their way to the involved room, they encountered a woman who was acting erratically. She was taken into custody and officers discovered she had fired a gun several times into an interior wall of the building. No injuries were reported, the woman was taken into custody and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Charges are pending.
ASSAULT: Clermont Drive at Dartmoor Lane (Mark Twain Park), 7/18/21, 6:03 p.m. A woman was walking on a path when a man grabbed her before running away.
STABBING: Telegraph Road & Rainwater Place, 7/15/21, 7:46 p.m. Two men were involved in a traffic altercation. The suspect stopped in front of the victim’s car, approached and began assaulting the victim. During the assault, the victim was stabbed in the upper body. The suspect got back into his car and drove away. The victim was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
COMMERCIAL BURGLARY - ARREST: 6400 Springfield Mall (Macy’s), 7/11/21, 9:07 p.m. Qunay Marshall, 28, no fixed address, hid inside the store until closing when she took property and ran away. Officers located her nearby and she was charged with burglary and petit larceny.
ROBBERY: 6200 Backlick Road, 7/13/2021, 12:23 a.m. A man was approached by two men who asked for money which he gave them. A short time later the two men returned asking for more. When the man refused, the two men assaulted him, took his property and ran away. No injuries were reported.
COMMERCIAL ROBBERY: 6200 #B, Old Franconia Road (Franconia Wellness), 7/2/21, 2 p.m. A man entered the business, forcefully took property and ran away.
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The report contains selected crimes. This report is not a comprehensive list of every police event in the district in the month. Information contained in the Info Sheet is generally based on initial reports made to the police department. Follow-up investigations may reveal different or additional information.
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As a result of Franconia District Faith Watch meetings, Bias Crime (aka Hate Crime) reporting is being included in the Community Report.
For more detail on Virginia and Fairfax County Bias Crime law click HERE.
Click HERE to view Fairfax County Police Department
General Order 520.7 - Bias Crime Policy.
For information on the Franconia District Faith Watch program contact Franconia Community Outreach Officer MPO Eric Nelson at:
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Bias Crimes and Incidents - Franconia District
July 2021
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No Bias Crimes were reported in July. |
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REMINDER:
Please be vigilant & report any suspicious activity in your neighborhood
Anyone with information pertaining to the listed cases is asked to contact Crime Solvers by one of the methods below. If the information provided results in an arrest and indictment, apprehension of a fugitive or the recovery of stolen property or seizure of illegal drugs, a cash reward ranging between $100 to $1000 is paid to the tipster.
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By Phone -1-866-411-TIPS ( 866-411-8477);
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By Text - Send a text message to 847411, then type the keyword "FCCS" add a space, type your tip info and hit send;
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By web - Click HERE; or,
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Download our Mobile tip411 App "Fairfax Co Crime Solvers."
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Calls for Service and Crime Statistics
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For information on how these statistics are compiled click HERE. |
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Note: In the charts below Sully District Station is Station 1, Mt. Vernon is 2, McLean is 3, Mason is 4, Reston is 5, Franconia is 6, W. Springfield is 7, and Fair Oaks is 8.
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Group A offenses are more serious offenses that must be reported to the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS). For a full description of Groups A and B click HERE.
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For additional crime statistics and information please click below.
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Franconia Police District News |
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August Traffic Safety Initiatives |
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Each month the Franconia District Station Traffic Enforcement Officer selects areas of the traffic code for special enforcement emphasis. The areas chosen are based on county-wide traffic safety focus areas, seasonal variables, public safety concerns, and other factors. For August, the enforcement areas below have been selected. Click on a section heading to get more information on that area.
“Back to School Preparation”
46.2-833 Disregard Traffic Signal
46.2-868.1 Aggressive driving
Any and all moving violations
46.2-878. Authority to change speed limits (General Speeding).
46.2-873. Maximum speed limits at school crossings; penalty.
46.2-878.1. Maximum speed limits in highway work zones; penalty.
46.2-878.2. Maximum speed limits in certain residence districts of counties, cities, and towns; penalty.
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Any and all violations cited to the driver of a commercial motor vehicle. See attached handout for further guidance
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August 18th – September 6th
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Franconia
Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
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CAC Meeting Schedule
CAC meetings are normally held at 7 PM on the 3rd Wednesday of the month with a break during July and August. Meetings will resume in September. Meeting participation details are distributed by email. Contact CAC Coordinator Kim Barber mailto:kim.barber@fairfaxcounty.gov if you would like to be placed on the CAC notification list.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at 7 PM
Agenda: Presentation from the K-9 Unit with
2nd Lieutenant Ari Morin and K-9 Tango
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Fairfax County Chief of Police Kevin Davis has hired Dr. Noah Fritz as the Department’s new Director of Crime Control Strategies & Data Analytics. Dr. Fritz will be a key contributor to Chief Davis' data-driven strategy, which will guide FCPD’s approach to fair and effective policing via the collection, analysis and sharing of statistical information.
“I am honored to have been selected as the new Director of the Crime Control Strategies and Data Analytics Bureau at the Fairfax County Police Department - one of the nation's most highly-regarded professional public safety agencies in the US. Let's get busy,” said Dr. Fritz, who began working in Fairfax on July 19th.
The full press release announcing Dr. Fritz' appointment can be seen by
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Police Data and Reform Website |
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Several legislative and procedural activities are underway that affect the organization and operations of the Fairfax County Police Department. To provide a central point to find these activities' status and find data on police activities, the Police Data and Reform Website has been created to provide links to reports and data. To visit the site, click on the picture below.
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FCPD has launched a recruitment-oriented website to provide a central hub for all FCPD job positions and other opportunities, to include:
- Police Department Jobs
- Animal Protection Police Officer
- Auxiliary Police Officer
- Parking Enforcement
- Crossing Guard
- Police Cadet
- Public Safety Cadet
- Internship Program
Find your purpose and contribute to the community
with FCPD.
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Keep in Touch with FCPD
Information and alerts from the Police Department are available
on our web pages and on many social media platforms.
Click on the button below for a list of links.
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