Welcome to the January, 2023 edition of the Franconia Community Report. On behalf of the Franconia Police team, we hope each of you had a joy-filled holiday season and wish you health and happiness in the new-year. Looking ahead, crime will evolve and pose new challenges. Our data-driven policing model will continue to inform our response and prove critical in the development of new prevention strategies. The identification of crime trends and patterns, coupled with the sharing of actionable data, is a community’s best defense against future occurrences. 

Traffic-safety remains a top priority in the Franconia District. I’m pleased to share that I’ve established a 2^nd full-time traffic-enforcement position that will be staffed later this month. 

PFC Jake Ryan represented the Franconia District in an agency-wide Safe December initiative last month, focusing on impaired driving enforcement. Last year, the Franconia District saw an increase of more than 13% in DWI arrests, compared to 2021. Simply put – Traffic-Safety Saves Lives!

Tragically, December ended with the Franconia District’s third homicide of 2022.   A 23-year-old man has been arrested for the New Year’s Eve murder in the 9500 block of Unity Lane in Lorton. Detectives are continuing to investigate and victim specialists from our Major Crimes Bureau have been assigned to ensure the victim’s family is receiving appropriate resources and assistance. More information is available HERE. 

In closing, I thank each of you for your continued support. As always, I can be reached at John.Lieb@fairfaxcounty.gov.  

On December 19^th, PFC Katie Massengill encountered an elderly community member behind the wheel of a disabled vehicle. PFC Massengill quickly established a rapport with the gentleman, who was confused and did not understand why his vehicle was not operating. As a result, PFC Massengill drove the community member to his home. Upon arrival, she determined that the subject's living conditions were unsafe for habitation.

(Spotlight is a new Franconia Community Report feature which will periodically highlight a Franconia District Station staff member's day-to-day contributions.)

“I began my career with the Fairfax County Police Department in 2003 as a pre-hire ride along at the Franconia District. After completion of the Criminal Justice Academy, I was assigned to a patrol squad at Franconia, working both daywork and midnight squads. After a few years in patrol, I was selected to our Neighborhood Patrol Unit and later became a detective in the Criminal Investigations Section. In 2014, I was selected for a detective position in our Major Crimes Bureau. During my tenure in MCB, my assignments included the Auto Theft Squad, Child Abuse Squad, Sex Crimes Squad and Cold Case Squad*. The Cold Case Squad not only investigates cold cases in Fairfax County, but also has criminal investigative responsibility over all Police Associated Critical Incidents, to include officer involved shootings. I recently took the promotional process and am currently assigned as a Sergeant at the Franconia District Station. I am happy to be back at the Franconia Station where my career started, and I hope to pass along my experience and knowledge to the current officers. Furthermore, I look forward to being a strong advocate for the Franconia Community. 

Our unit takes great pride in assisting with community concerns. To report a traffic or parking complaint within the Franconia District, you can call the non-emergency number at 703-691-2131. If you have a non-urgent request, you can email me at tiffany.horton@fairfaxcounty.gov. All traffic and parking complaints are documented in a database where I stay on top of the enforcement being conducted, as well as follow up with the original complainant.”

*  Click HERE to see a recent FCPD press release concerning one of Sergeant Horton’s cases.

Theft from vehicles and theft of vehicles continues to be a problem. Although FCPD has created a successful Auto Crimes Enforcement (ACE) team and Franconia District Station has used dedicated resources and community education efforts to address vehicle crimes, thefts continue. One easy to prevent theft is the "warmup theft".

You may be running into the store for one minute, but it takes only seconds to run off with your car if it's left running and unattended. This weekend many of us will make a quick stop at the store to grab something for a holiday gathering or, maybe, run in somewhere for a quick coffee or food pickup. And, with below freezing temps, it's tempting to warm your car up as you're heading out in the morning. (In fact, Consumer Reports experts suggest warming up your car is not a good idea in any case.)

Think twice before leaving your car unlocked, running, and unattended. Many think it will never happen, but car thieves are out there looking for vehicles left unattended and running in driveways and parking lots. We call these "warmup thefts."

Keep your ride safe and where you left it. It's safest to never leave your car alone, unlocked and running; always lock your car if you're tempted to warm it up before leaving or keep it warm while you run in.

In the last week of December, we saw a series of Hyundai vehicle thefts. Details of thefts are in the Crime in the Community section below. A concern about this series is that it is consistent with a nationwide trend that has targeted Hyundai and Kia vehicles - notably the 2010 to 2021 model years. As described in the October Community Report, thieves are exploiting the lack of an immobilizer chip on some Hyundai and Kia models. The manufacturers have reportedly advised owners on ways to address the problem. If you own these vehicle models, we strongly suggest you speak to a dealership about options available to you. In addition, we remind everyone of tips to help deter auto theft:

The past two issues of the newsletter have mentioned the holiday drive for gift cards to provide needed items for crime victims and their families. The results have been gratifying. Thank you for your generous contributions!

In addition to community support, CAC Chair Kim Barber provided a tree for Franconia Station staff to attach their individual gift card donations as well. Here is the tree with Assistant Commander Derek Gray, CAC Chair Kim Barber, Commander John Lieb and Victim Services Specialist Ilana Wixted.

Did you miss the Traffic Town Hall with the Board of Supervisors Public Safety Chair Rodney Lusk, Transportation Chair Walter Alcorn, Franconia Commander John Lieb and others? Find out how it went by watching the video HERE.

PFC Kevin Rosa is the new Franconia Outreach Officer. He has been with FCPD for six years. All of which have been at the Franconia District Station in patrol assignments. PFC Rosa says:

"One of the things that I learned about myself while on patrol was that I really enjoyed interacting with the community on a daily basis. Through my interactions I have had the opportunity in meeting many wonderful people. Having a great relationship with the community is something that I've always been passionate about. I'm really excited in being able to work with the community alongside with MPO Corcoran."

For more information about events or for other crime prevention information and assistance, contact the

Franconia District Station Crime Prevention Office:

Crime Prevention Officer

MPO Sean Corcoran [sean.corcoran@fairfaxcounty.gov] 703-277-2476

Community Outreach Officer

PFC Kevin Rosa [FCPDFranconiaCPO@fairfaxcounty.gov]

In response to community feedback, Captain Lieb has launched the Franconia District Crime Report. The information below is from his most recent postings on nextdoor. The information is based on initial reports and is not a comprehensive list of every police event.

*Series Alert* Although recent cases have not occurred in the Franconia District, neighboring police district have experienced recent commercial burglaries targeting ATM machines. If you have a business with a standalone ATM, here are some things you can do to ensure your assets are protected:

If you would like to talk further about increasing your business security, contact the Franconia District Crime Prevention Office at FCPDFranconiaCPO@fairfaxcounty.gov!

STOLEN AUTOS: *Series Alert*

Anyone with information pertaining to 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.

Calls for Service and Crime Statistics

Due to scheduling difficulties, the usual detailed monthly Calls for Service, Incident and Arrest reports were not available in time for Community Report publication. The December 2022 statistics will be published in the next Community Report. Below are annual summary statistics for 2020 - 2021 as of December 30^th, 2022.

Incidents and Calls for Service Trends

Group A incidents are more serious offenses as designated by the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS). For a full description of Groups A and B click HERE.

To see the call types included in each category click HERE.

HERE.

Interested in safely turning in a firearm or ammunition? We can help.

The best way to is to call our non-emergency line at 703-691-2131 and request an officer come to your home. Make sure you leave the unloaded weapon in a safe place and direct the officer to it. The officer will verify the weapon is unloaded and rendered safe before taking possession of it.

Although, not the preferred method, you can also turn in a firearm at one of our eight district stations. Please call before arriving, make sure the weapon is unloaded and placed in the trunk of your vehicle, and separate from any ammunition. When you arrive at the station, leave the weapon in your car. Once you speak with the front desk, an officer will be called to the station to take the report and take possession of the weapon or ammunition.

Whenever handling a weapon, please remember to utilize the following safety rules:

·       Treat every weapon as if it is loaded

·       Keep it pointed in a safe direction

·       Keep your finger off the trigger

If you are not comfortable handling the weapon you are turning in, please be sure to call the non-emergency number to have an officer come to your home.

Thank you for helping keep our communities safer. Learn more about firearm disposal at our website: Disposal of Unwanted Firearms and Ammunition | Police (fairfaxcounty.gov)

Despite a burst pipe at the station during breakfast preparation on Christmas Day, the CAC was able to provide Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas Day breakfast, and Christmas Day lunch/dinner for our Franconia Police Officers. Diet-To-Go provided some of the meals and Keany Produce provided fruit. The CAC provided desserts, drinks, and grab-n-go sub boxes from Firehouse Subs. Thank you to all for your donations!

CAC meetings are normally held at 7 PM on the 3^rd Wednesday of the month.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 18^th, 2023, at 7 PM in the Community Room, Franconia Governmental Center, 6121 Franconia Road.

 Click on the image.