GOVERNOR MARTIN O’MALLEY, DC MAYOR ADRIAN FENTY MEET TO DISCUSS REGIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 1, 2010) – Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Washington, DC Mayor Adrian M. Fenty met today to discuss ongoing efforts to enhance cross-border coordination in improving public safety throughout the region. In April of last year, the leaders announced the establishment of regular joint sessions that will focus on implementing regional commitments to public safety and other initiatives, and measuring the attainment of the regional goals through Maryland’s StateStat office and the District’s CapStat program. These regional public safety commitments include information-sharing on high risk offenders, expediting the execution of warrants for individuals wanted by another jurisdiction, tracking progress on monitoring repeat violent offenders and other issues.

“Our most solemn obligation as public servants is the protection of the public safety for working families throughout our region,” said Governor O’Malley. “Violent criminals cross borders, and therefore, so should our ability and willingness to enforce our laws. These cross-border partnerships are built on effective principles that enhance public safety and stop violent offenders in their tracks.”

“This year, our strong regional partnership led to decreases in homicides and violent crime throughout the national capital area,” said Mayor Fenty. “I look forward to continuing the communication and collaboration that makes our neighborhoods safer places to live.”

Statewide in Maryland, over the last three years, juvenile homicides have gone down 46 percent. Maryland had the fewest homicides statewide since 1986 last year.

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett also attended today’s session, along with Prince George’s County Assistant Police Chief Kevin Davis. In Montgomery County, homicides decreased more than 40 percent between 2008 and 2009 and juvenile homicides decreased by 50 percent during the same period. Between 2007 and 2008, a period of time encompassing the launch of this cross-border public safety initiative, Prince George’s County experienced a reduction in murders of more than 13 percent. Preliminary data indicates that Prince George’s County experienced a 23% reduction in murders between 2008 and 2009, continuing the trend of reduced violence in Prince George’s County. As a result of the State and County’s emphasis on reducing crime, the County’s overall crime rate reached its lowest level in 35 years.

In 2009, the Metro Police Department in Washington, DC showed a 45 year low in homicides. Between 2008 and 2009, DC experienced a 23 percent reduction in homicides, including a reduction in every ward of the District. In addition, violent crime and property crime have each declined, four percent and three percent respectively. Metropolitan Police has also achieved enforcement milestone with its 75 percent homicide closure rate for 2009 and the execution of the most successful narcotics sting operation since the 1970s.

Regional crime rates have dropped significantly as well, including a 25 percent reduction in murder, a 7.3 percent reduction in robbery, a car theft reduction of nearly 32 percent, and a reduction in thefts of over 9 percent.