2008 Annual Report - Prince William County Government

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT 2008 Annual Report
A Nationally Accredited Law Enforcement Agency Prince William County Police Department
TABLE OF CONTENTS
County and Department At a Glance
2
Facilities Directory & Map
3
Department Organization Chart
4
Department Profile
5
Significant Achievements in 2008
6
Department Awards
12
Volunteers
14
Retirements
16
In Remembrance
16
Citizen Satisfaction Survey
17
2008 Crime Statistics
Annual Crime Statistics
19
Part 1 Crime
20
Person vs. Property Crime
20
Crime Rate
21
Crime Rate and Population
22
Closure Rates
Crimes Against Persons —
Historical Perspective
Crimes Against Property —
Historical Perspective
23
24
Arrests, Part 1 Crimes
27
Arrests, Other Crimes
28
Illegal Immigration Enforcement
29
Illegal Alien Arrests, Part 1 Crimes
30
Illegal Alien Arrests, Other Crimes
31
Traffic Enforcement
32
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2008 Annual Report
The County at a Glance
Board of County Supervisors
Corey A. Stewart, CHAIRMAN
At-Large
W.S. Wally Covington, VICE CHAIRMAN
Brentsville District
Maureen S. Caddigan
Dumfries District
John D. Jenkins
Neabsco District
Michael C. May
Occoquan District
Martin E. Nohe
Coles District
Frank J. Principi
Woodbridge District
John T. Stirrup, Jr.
Gainesville District
County Executive
Craig S. Gerhart
County Budget
$2.34 billion (FY 09 adopted)
County Employees
3,700 (full-time equivalent, FY 09)
Area
348 square miles/222,615 acres
Population
388,269 (June 15, 2008)
Median Household Income
$87,243 (2008)
Average Assessed Value
-- Single-Family Home
Distance to Washington, D.C.
$435,100 (2008)
35 miles
The Police Department at a Glance
Chief
Charlie T. Deane
Department Budget
$66.9 million (FY08 adopted)
Police Officers
537
Civilian Personnel
188 full time (incl. Animal Control & Crossing Guard)
Annual Training Totals
49,024 hours (recruit training)
42,560 hours (annual in-service training)
8,820 hours (firearms training)
Calls for Service
228,785
Public Safety Communications
Staff under joint management of Police and Fire Chiefs
2
Prince William County Police Department
POLICE DEPARTMENT FACILITIES MAP
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2008 Annual Report
DEPARTMENTAL ORGANIZATION CHART
4
Prince William County Police Department
DEPARTMENT PROFILE
The Department is supported by a Forensics
Services Bureau, a traffic safety team, a strong
Neighborhood Watch program, a Law Enforcement Explorers Post, and a Criminal Justice
Academy that provided more than 103,500 hours
of basic and in-service training for Department
personnel in 2008.
In its commitment to law enforcement
excellence, the Department has been fully
accredited by the Commission on Accreditation
for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) since
1987. The Department embraces a community
policing philosophy and strives to remain a
modern and innovative law enforcement agency.
We use the most modern police technology
available, and our officers are continually kept
abreast of current crime fighting methods.
Though technology continues to play an
important role, it is our staff that will determine
the future of the Department. Since 1970, the
Department and the community have been
fortunate to have people who are committed to
public service. These dedicated officers and
employees stand prepared to provide the very
best in law enforcement service just as they have
done over the last 38 years.
Prince William County was established in
1731 and is situated approximately 35 miles
southwest of Washington, D.C. The County
consists of 348 square miles and encompasses
the independent cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, as well as the towns of Dumfries,
Haymarket, Occoquan and Quantico.
The Prince William County Police Department began operations on July 1, 1970. The
Department started with 42 experienced police
officers and operated out of the now-replaced
Gar-Field Government Center on Cardinal
Drive. The Department’s budget that year was
$750,000 and the County’s population was
approximately 111,000.
Prince William County has experienced
tremendous growth since then. As of December
15, 2008, the County’s population was 390,771,
and a larger police department and more varied
police services are required to accommodate the
needs of our community. The Department has an
authorized strength of 537 officers and an
operating budget of more than $66.9 million.
In 2008, the Department celebrated 38 years
of outstanding law-enforcement service to the
community. Today, the Police Department is
comprised of three divisions and a variety of
bureaus and specialty units.
Officers take part in
many community
events to support
our mission, such
as the Police Unity
Tour. The tour
raises awareness
of police officers
who have died in
the line of duty.
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2008 Annual Report
SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS in 2008
McCain, Obama Rallies in County Place
Department in National Spotlight
The presidential campaigns of 2008 provided
two opportunities for the Department’s members to
shine while providing additional security and
traffic control for Senator John McCain, the
Republican candidate for president and thenSenator Barak Obama, the Democratic candidate
for president.
Sen. McCain held a campaign rally on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008, at the Sean T.
Connaughton Community Plaza adjacent to the
McCoart building. The crowd was estimated by the
media to be between 8,000 and 10,000 people. Sen.
Obama held a campaign rally on Monday, Nov. 3,
2008, at the Prince William Fairgrounds outside
Manassas. The crowd was estimated by the media
to be around 85,000 people.
More than 400 officers worked during the two
presidential rallies in the County last year,
including traffic control, crowd control and
other duties.
Basic Recruit School Graduates
Officers in June and December
Training and
Career Development
The Prince William County Criminal
Justice Academy produced two sessions of new
police officers last year. Twenty-five police
officers graduated from the Basic Law
Enforcement 24th Session on June 19, 2008.
Twenty-five police officers graduated from the
Basic Law Enforcement 25th Session on Dec.
19, 2008.
The June graduates were: Jennifer L.
Adams, Garing L. Armstead, Justin T. Bonner,
Jeremy A. Booth, Daniel G. Carton, David T.
Clark, Renee J. Colombo, James A. Conway Jr.,
Katherine T. Dunnaville, Adam H. Gardiner,
Adam J. Higgs, Christopher R. Johnson, David
Two Officers Graduate
from Basic K-9 School
Two police officers completed the basic
K-9 training course and were recognized at a
ceremony on January 18, 2008. SPO Kevin A.
Curry and Officer Jay A. Gutschmidt completed
the 16-week course of training. MPO Wayne D.
Stewart with the Department’s K-9 Unit, was
the lead trainer for the course, which was
offered at the Criminal Justice Academy.
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Prince William County Police Department
Police to assist with law
enforcement duties in New
Orleans, La.; Picayune, Miss.;
Cameron Parrish, La; and, most
recently, Livingston Parish, La.
In the most recent deployment,
First Sergeant Tony Spencer
supervised the EMAC response
team and Sergeant Mike
Hustwayte was the assistant
supervisor. Completing the team
were Officers Shaun Barrett,
Gary Brunelle, Brian Gardner,
Dave Hess, Donald Hoffman,
Session 24 Basic Recruit School graduates.
David Sottosanti and Daniel
Sullins, as well as Detective Marty Leake.
Following their return, First Sergeant
J. Kaczmarczyk, Katheryn S. Kuhlman, Joel D.
Spencer made a presentation to the Virginia
Lewton, Matthew A. Lyon, Tiffany A. McClary,
Department of Criminal Justice Services Law
Benjamin A. Owen, Richard A. Ratliff, Jesse M.
Enforcement Command Advisory Group in
Rollinger, Kevin R. Rule, Michael Stolar, Amon
Chesterfield, Va. He spoke about lessons learned
Y. Weaver III, Peter J. Wellman and Spencer R.
from the deployment that may assist other law
Wheeler.
enforcement agencies should they send or
The December graduates were: Jessica A.
receive EMAC assistance in the future.
Artone, Ian G. Case, Maria Y. Cervantes,
Brendan K. Duffy, John G. Franklin, Shawn M.
Gallagher, Daniel F. Gray, Joseph A.
Twenty-four Members Complete
Guzdowski, David C. Humphries, Tiffany D.
First West Point Leadership Course
Jenkins, Charles E. Kinchloe, Darrell W. Lewis,
Twenty-four members completed the West
Daniel O. Martin, Richard W. McConnaughey,
Point Leadership Course, based on an
Robert J. Mrak II, Michael G. O’Neill, Andrew
undergraduate course offered at West Point, the
W. Pittman, Ryan D. Rowland, Brian C. Stenger,
U.S. Military Academy. The course was adapted
Ame E. Stevens, Joseph M. Westerman, Robert
to help police organizations develop leaders
S. White, Ericca K. Wright, Andrew J. Wrighten
from within.
and Warren J. Zaccagnini Jr.
The 22-week program was held at the
Criminal Justice Academy. Participants worked
in small groups on projects relevant to the
Department.
The graduates in this inaugural class were:
Sergeants Ruben D. Castilla, Drew Hunter,
Michael R. Lewis, Michael B. Blake, John W.
Wojcik, Jeffrey S. Pyck, and Thomas J. Garrity;
First Sergeants Paul D. Rankin Jr., Brian P.
Crowley Jr., Dawn M. Harman, Daniel M. Hess,
Robert D. Grinnell, Scott A. Kearns, Javid C.
Elahi, Carlos J. Robles, Bryan W. Simms,
Geoffrey H. Howard, Charlie Hoffman, Brenda
J. Walburn and Erik J. Barnhart; Lieutenants
Kevin P. Brown, Christopher P. Feather, John J.
Twomey III, and Steven J. Thompson.
Officers Travel to Louisiana, Provide
Mutual Aid After Hurricane Gustav
From September 12-28, 2008, 12 Prince
William County officers were deployed to
Livingston Parish, La., in the wake of Hurricane
Gustav, for about two weeks to supplement road
deputies with law enforcement duties.
Since 2005, when a series of natural
disasters struck the Gulf Coast of the United
States, County police have been responding to
the Virginia Emergency Management
Assistance Center’s (EMAC) calls to provide
mutual aid to other law enforcement agencies.
The Department has deployed members ranging
from Police Officer I positions to the Chief of
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2008 Annual Report
their exceptional bravery in pulling two
occupants from a burning vehicle.
Neighborhood and
Community Initiatives
Torch Run 2008
Centralized Fingerprint Unit
is Showcased at Open House
In June, the Department participated in the
annual Torch Run for Special Olympics. The
torch was lit in Arlington, Va., and carried by
police officers down U.S. Route 1 to Richmond.
In Prince William County, the torch started on
Route 1 at the Prince William-Fairfax line and
ended at the entrance to the U.S. Marine Corps
Base, which straddles the Prince WilliamStafford line.
Traditionally, the Department celebrates
the Torch’s arrival with a picnic for the athletes.
The Torch is handed from a police officer to a
Special Olympian as it passes the Gar-Field
Station in Woodbridge.
The Special Olympics is supported by law
enforcement officers throughout the United
States and in 45 countries.
In March 2008, the Department held an
open house to announce that its Fingerprint Unit
operates from a centralized location, and has the
ability to access regional and statewide
fingerprint databases directly from the new
location. Since 1984, members of the Fingerprint
Unit operated from the NOVARIS facility
located in Fairfax County, Va., but with the
expansion of the Department’s Forensic Services
Bureau, the fingerprint examiners were able to
relocate to the new facility in the Manassas area.
“By bringing this Unit back in-house, we will
benefit from a more efficient and streamlined
process in the identification of subjects,” said
Chief Charlie T. Deane.
11 Citizens Graduate from the
Senior Citizen Police Academy
Taxi Inspection Permit Decals Debut
In 2008, every Manassas and Yellow Cab
had to display a blue decal, affixed to the left
rear window of the taxi, to show that the vehicle
had passed a safety inspection as well as a meter
inspection by the Police Department.
Eleven individuals received certificates of
graduation on June 18, 2008, in recognition of
their successful completion of the 15th session
of the Department’s award-winning Senior
Citizen Police Academy.
The six-week program is designed to
provide the community with an opportunity to
learn about their Police Department, to allow
The 32-point vehicle inspection, and the
annual meter calibration, is done to ensure the
safety of taxi patrons as they use only cabs
legally allowed to pick up passengers in the
County. The color of the decals
changes annually.
County Residents Are
Commended
Three Bristow residents were
honored in May 2008 for their
actions following a January 8th crash
on Aden Road that claimed the life
of one individual. Chief Deane
presented Thomas Berger, John
McCue and Nadine Lenar with
certificates and letters of
commendation at a ceremony at the
Western District Station in the
Manassas area. They were cited for
Senior Citizen Police Academy Session 15 graduates.
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Prince William County Police Department
philosophy of doing everything we can to better
serve the community,” said Chief Deane. “We
learn what we are doing well and what we can
do better.”
The graduates of the 26th session were:
Laureano Abila Jr., Ateeb Ahmad, Brent
Barnwell, Melissa Barnwell, Sabrina Davis, John
Devison, Howard Gordon, Usman Janjua, Kevin
Johnson, Michele Long, Joyce Martin, Mary
McClane, Terry Rindal, Jody Sutphin, Tami
Turner, Donald Veazey, Joseph Vignola, Brenda
White, Carolyn Wilkinson, Patricia Williams
and Glenn Wolthuis.
dialogue between residents and officers, and to
discuss mutual problems and potential solutions.
The graduates of the 15th session were:
Charlie Adkins, Alice Allen, Mildred Clark,
Norman Lober, Patsy McDonald, Ileana Mele,
Sanae Richardson, Terry Rindal, Richard
Sienkiewicz, Dymple Smith and John Smith.
25th Anniversary
of National Night Out
On August 2, the Department observed the
25th annual National Night Out at the
Connaughton Community Plaza adjacent to the
James J. McCoart Administration Building.
Features included police and fire exhibits
and McGruff the Crime Dog, County government agencies, local clubs, civic groups
and businesses. There were
demonstrations and games as well as
information tables and give-aways!
National Night Out, coordinated by
the Crime Prevention Unit, is designed to
help create healthy neighborhoods, help
neighbors to know one another, celebrate
community and take steps to make
neighborhoods safer for all residents.
National Night Out helps form good
relationships between the community and
the Police Department. Neighborhood
Watch programs and National Night Out This designation means that Prince William County has
help to create a neighborhood network to implemented a defined set of community safety strategies.
find ways to prevent crime and to
enhance the quality of life in the County.
Certified Crime Prevention Community
In addition, on August 5, residents were
Designation Re-Affirmed by State
encouraged to lock their doors, turn on outdoor
lights and spend the evening outside with their
Six years ago, the County became the first
neighbors and law enforcement as a symbol that
to earn the Certified Crime Prevention
they care about their neighborhoods.
Community designation under a state program
that recognizes and certifies localities that have
21 Citizens Graduate from the
implemented a defined set of community safety
Citizen Police Academy
strategies.
On September 16, 2008, the Board of
Twenty-one individuals received
County
Supervisors formally accepted the
certificates of graduation in August in
County’s
recertification. The process was
recognition of their successful completion of the
handled by the Department’s Crime Prevention
26th session of the Citizen Police Academy.
Unit, and their application will likely be used as
The citizen academies are part of a
a model for the state’s fledgling recertification
continuing effort to develop citizen awareness
process.
and understanding of the role of the police in the
community. “These academies fit into our
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2008 Annual Report
Click It or Ticket
Traffic Safety – Education
and Enforcement
County police joined law enforcement
agencies throughout Virginia in the “Click It Or
Ticket” mobilization to enforce the
Commonwealth’s safety belt and child safety
seat laws. The Department participated in highvisibility patrols – day and night – from midMay through the Memorial Day holiday and
again from mid-November through the
Thanksgiving holiday.
Virginia law allows police to cite anyone
driving a car in which an occupant under age 16
is not wearing a safety belt or is not properly
secured in a child safety seat. It also provides
that drivers stopped for other violations can be
cited if they are not properly restrained. This
also applies to all front seat passengers over the
age of 16.
“Click It or Ticket” is one of several
programs under the Smart, Safe and Sober
partnership. Smart, Safe and Sober is a statewide
program dedicated to preventing death and
injury on Virginia roadways. It is a joint
partnership of the Department, the Virginia
Association of Chiefs of Police, the Virginia
Department of State Police, the Virginia
Sheriffs’ Association, DRIVE SMART Virginia,
and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
The Department participated in several
traffic safety education and enforcement
campaigns in 2008, ranging from child safety
seat inspections and installations to DUI checkpoints and education, motor carrier safety
inspections as well as speeding and
improper driving campaigns. These included:
Street Smart Campaign for Bike,
Pedestrian Safety Nets More than 400
Summonses
The Street Smart Campaign, which is designed to
reduce traffic-related arrests
and crashes involving
vehicles and bicycles or
vehicles and pedestrians,
was conducted in March
(15th-22nd) and in
November (23rd-30th).
Street Smart is a
pedestrian- and bicyclesafety and public awareness
program carried out by law
enforcement agencies throughout the Washington metropolitan area. The goal is to educate the
public on pedestrian and bicycle safety issues
and laws.
Targeted areas for this enforcement in eastern Prince William County included Route 1
between Featherstone Drive and Occoquan
Road, Dale Boulevard from Ashdale Avenue to
Ridgefield Road, and Minnieville Road from
Tackett’s Mill to Old Bridge Road.
Targeted areas in western Prince William
County included Sudley Road between Irongate
Way and Balls Ford Road, Route 28 from Maplewood Drive to Yorkshire Lane, Lomond
Drive from Sudley Road to Lomond Drive
South, and Ashton Avenue from Crestwood
Drive to Coverstone Drive.
“Slow Down! Move Over! It’s the Law!”
Awareness Campaign
County police joined the Virginia State
Police in educating the public about the state’s
Concern over officer safety during traffic stops
led to the Move Over awareness campaign.
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Prince William County Police Department
Traffic Enforcement Data
new “move over” law. The law requires drivers
to change to another travel lane or, when not
able to safely do so, to slow down when passing
emergency personnel stopped on the road.
Violation of the law carries a punishment of a
fine of up to $2,500 and/or 12 months in jail.
According to the National Law Enforcement
Officers Memorial Fund, more than a dozen law
enforcement personnel were struck and killed
nationwide between 2006 and 2008 while
standing outside their vehicles on the nation’s
roadways.
There were 22 fatal crashes in 2008, compared with 23 fatal crashes in 2007 and 32 in
2006. Total crashes investigated by the Crash
Investigation Unit increased 11 percent in 2008
(1,614 versus 1,450).
The number of motor carrier inspections
increased 44 percent over 2007, with 53 percent
of the inspected vehicles having defects.
Department RADAR and LIDAR speed
enforcement increased just over 11 percent from
2007, while the number of summonses for
speeding increased just over 12 percent from
2007.
The number of hours officers spent on the
Roadway Incident Management Program
(RIMP) increased significantly in 2008
compared with 2007 (1,025 hours compared
with 568 hours). A total of 452 tickets were
issued in 2008 under RIMP, compared with 181
in 2007.
Smooth Operator
Anti-Aggressive Driving Campaign
Smooth Operator is a regional
anti-aggressive driving campaign that involves
nearly 30 law enforcement agencies throughout
the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. County
police target those offenses most closely
associated with aggressive driving, such as
speeding, driving while intoxicated, reckless
driving, failure to wear a seatbelt, and child
safety seat violations. There are additional
officers assigned to work this campaign. That
means citizens can expect to see sobriety checkpoints and an increased officer presence on the
roadways.
Motor Carrier Safety Inspections
In calendar year 2008, the Department’s
Crash Investigations Unit conducted inspections
of 390 trucks that traveled on County roadways.
Of that number, 75 trucks were found to have
defects severe enough for officers to
immediately declare the vehicles “out of
service.” An additional 251 were found to have
defects that, while not immediately
compromising road safety, resulted in officers
writing citations that required the driver or the
trucking company to either repair the vehicles or
institute better safety programs for their drivers.
Traffic enforcement and education is a yearround objective of the Police Department.
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2008 Annual Report
2008 DEPARTMENT AWARDS
Smooth Operator Award
Heroes Appreciation Award
Officer Ronald Allen and Master Police
Officer Ramon Gomez were honored at the
region’s annual Smooth Operator luncheon for
the diligent enforcement of traffic violations
during the 2008 campaign. The awards were
presented by the Metropolitan Washington
Council of Governments (COG).
Officer Dave Ehrhardt received this award
from the Manassas Kiwanis Club “for solving a
case in which nine youths were arrested and
charged with placing objects on the highway that
caused several crashes and damage to many
vehicles.” It took a lot of work piecing the case
together and getting the numerous charges
placed against the individuals, such as
destruction of property, trespassing and littering
the highway. The Heroes Appreciation awards
are given to pay tribute to the men and women
who serve the community in law enforcement,
fire and rescue, emergency services and related
fields.
National Association of Counties (NACo)
Achievement Award
The Robbery Suppression Initiative was
one of four County government programs to
receive an Achievement Award from NACo.
The Department’s Street Crimes Unit was tasked
with conducting a Robbery Suppression
Initiative to reduce the number of robberies.
Members conducted street-level enforcement in
the identified areas by being highly visible,
initiating contact with subjects seen in the area
and adhering to a “zero tolerance” policy.
Members also established a rapport and level of
trust within the largely victimized Hispanic
community, in particular the business
community. The initiative resulted in an increase
in the robbery clearance rate, led to money and
weapons seizures, hundreds of criminal charges
and a reduction in the number of robberies in
2007. The award is given to recognize county
governments on a national level for hard work in
promoting quality, efficiency and responsibility
in county government management and
administration.
The winners of the 2008 Smooth Operator
Awards are Officer Ronald Allen and Master
Police Officer Ramon Gomez. Pictured next
to MPO Gomez is Mary Ann Childs, Special
Operations Bureau, and 1st Sergeant
Jacques Poirier, a Traffic Unit supervisor.
Police Officer of the Year Award
2008 County Executive’s Award
Officer Ed McDermott and Officer Matt
Smith were named the Dale City Civic
Association’s 2008 Police Officers of the Year.
The civic association annually makes this award
to an officer who is assigned to patrol in Dale
City.
Members of the Criminal Investigative
Division’s Burglary Investigation Team won a
County Executive’s Award for the successful
investigation and arrests of individuals who were
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Prince William County Police Department
Virginia Crime Prevention Association
(VCPA) Awards
Two of the County’s Neighborhood
Watches — Batley Place in Lake Ridge and
Crossroads Village in Gainesville — were
recognized by the VCPA as the 2008
“Community Organization Award” winners.
Congratulations are due to the citizen-members
of these two Neighborhood Watch groups as
well as to the Crime Prevention Unit staff who
work with them to ensure that their
neighborhoods are safe! For more information
on starting a Neighborhood Watch program in
your community, visit the Crime Prevention
Center on our website at www.police.
pwcgov.org.
Officer Donnan, Officer McDermott and
Officer Cieslinski earned DUI enforcement
awards from VASAP/MADD. Not pictured is
Officer Grayson, who also earned an award.
2008 Valor Awards
responsible for a rash of burglaries in the
County. The Unit’s members at the time of the
award were: Master Detective Peter Barlow,
Detective Richard Brown, Detective Cameron
Crouch, Senior Detective Wayne Graves,
Detective Ashley Gwinn, Melanie KentKnapczyk, Heidi Paiva, Master Detective
Stephen Piaskowski, Master Detective Patric
Quinn, Detective Lee Somerford and Master
Detective Steven Varvaro. Additionally,
Lieutenant Heidi Daniel and Major (Ret.) Daniel
Taber received County Executive’s Awards as
part of the County-wide DRIVE Steering Team,
which was tasked with developing and
overseeing the implementation and training of
County government’s new employee evaluation
system.
Seven members of the Department
received 2008 Valor Awards “in honor of those
who have served our region and its people
beyond the call of duty” at a ceremony hosted by
the Prince William Regional Chamber of
Commerce. Those honored at the 22nd annual
Valor Awards ceremony were: Officer
Christopher C. Bradford, Officer Kenneth
Hulsey, Officer Christopher A. Drew, Officer
Donald A. Hoffmann, Officer Scott A. Watt,
Officer Gary P. Brunelle and Officer Mark
Depatie.
Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE)
Lieutenant Joseph Ryan and First Sergeant
Jarad Phelps received the Safety Award for
Excellence (SAFE), which recognizes
individuals and/or groups who have made
outstanding contributions in creating or
maintaining a safe and healthy workplace,
consistent with County government’s Risk
Management policies and the County’s vision
and values. They initiated a review of all police
bicycle officer training which resulted in a
marked decline in bicycle training-related
injuries in fiscal year 2007.
VASAP/MADD Award
Officer Stephen Cieslinski, Officer Robert
Donnan, Officer Marc Grayson and Officer Ed
McDermott were honored at the 17th Annual
Awards for Excellence in Community Service
and Public Safety. The award is sponsored by
the Northern Virginia Alcohol Safety Program
and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The four
officers demonstrated an outstanding work ethic
and superior DUI detection skills, which resulted
in removing dangerous, intoxicated drivers from
the County’s roadways, making the roads safer
for our citizens.
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2008 Annual Report
VOLUNTEERS
Voluntary Action Center Honors Ed Roman
Long-time Prince William County Police Department volunteer Ed Roman said the most rewarding
thing about what he does is that it helps keep an extra police officer on the street. “Try about 10,”
laughed Sgt. Michael Blake, who has worked with Mr. Roman for the last three years at the Gar-Field
Station in Woodbridge.
Mr. Roman, 78, has worked as a volunteer for the last 9 ½ years, doing everything from keeping
inventory to getting police vehicles detailed. “He totally supports police operations on the east end of the
County,” Blake said. “He does a myriad of administrative work and keeps the officers and myself free to
do other things.”
On May 19, 2008, the Voluntary Action Center held its annual Volunteer Recognition Event in
Manassas. With 10,000 hours served – that’s an average of nearly 3 hours a day, 365 days a year for
nearly 10 years – Mr. Roman was unknowingly the guest of honor among the 574 individuals
recognized that night.
Mr. Roman’s technical expertise and casual demeanor made him a perfect fit at the Police
Department. The Pennsylvania native joined the military on his 16th birthday and became a
communication specialist in the U.S. Army during the Korean and Vietnam wars. He eventually met his
wife Mitzi in South America and has been married for nearly 50 years.
Mr. Roman jokingly blamed Mitzi for his volunteering stint at the Police Department. One day,
Mitzi read a newspaper article that mentioned the Department’s award-winning Senior Citizen Police
Academy. Mr. Roman went to the Gar-Field station to see what it was all about and was instantly
hooked. “Lieutenant Casey said, ‘see if you can find anything for him to do’ and I thought, ‘my ideal
job, they have to find something for me to do’,” Mr. Roman said.
Created in 1981 and based in Manassas, the Voluntary Action Center is a unique referral service
connecting volunteers with Prince William County’s diverse non-profit community. Along with Mr.
Roman’s recognition, the Center handed out 11 Community Spirit Awards to various local business
partners.
This article by writer Kipp Hanley originally appeared in The Potomac News on Wednesday, May 21, 2008. It is
reprinted with permission from the
newspaper.
Captain Tim Rudy stands with longtime volunteer Ed Roman in front of
the Gar-Field Station .
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Prince William County Police Department
VOLUNTEERS
The Prince William County Police Department extends sincere thanks
to all of our dedicated volunteers who provided many hours of service
to the Department and the community in 2008.
Administrative Services
John W. Morrison
Crime Prevention
Judith A. Bell-Dorman
Bob Huisman
Harold S. Jenkinson
Carol A. Lawhead
Virginia Morales
Lizbeth L. Nugent
Stephen H. Nugent
Suzanne M. Rucker
Animal Control
William J. Graham
Rick Jenkins
Larry O’Connor
Rachel Rutherford
William Seeger
Vicki L. Smith
Karen Wilkens
Rita Russell
Yvonne Sullivan
Richard C. Thomson, Jr.
Nancy Wolf
Chaplains
Gary Caruthers
Gene Chumley
Richard Delap
Lyle Dukes
Doug Duty, Jr.
Dennis Glusko
Fougere D. Gordon
Maria O. Gordon
Alfred Jones, Jr.
Donald J. Planty, Jr.
Operations-East
Edward E. Chick
Barbara L. Gaskins
Edward J. Roman
Operations-West
Kevin Porreco
Police Auxiliaries
Christopher J. Hermann
L. Chara Hyduke
John M. Kaysak
Lawrence R. Keller
Russell S. Lowe
Joseph W. Miller
Jane M. Seeberg
Frank N. Turner
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2008 Annual Report
RETIREMENTS
On behalf of the entire Police Department, farewells and best wishes
are extended to those who retired in 2008.
Stephen Collins
Vincent P. Doherty
Patricia Harman
Sindi Leo
Sam Newsome
Thomas Overman
Daniel Taber
John White
IN REMEMBRANCE
Prince William County Police Officers Killed in the Line of Duty
Paul Thomas White, Jr.
Philip Michael Pennington
October 27, 1973
November 22, 1990
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Prince William County Police Department
CITIZEN SATISFACTION SURVEY
residents much less satisfied than others. For
example, in 2005 when overall satisfaction
was 94 percent, blacks were 91 percent
satisfied and Hispanics the most satisfied at
97 percent with all others at 94 percent.
• The decline in satisfaction among Hispanics
is the primary reason for this year’s decrease
in satisfaction with police performance and
attitudes.
• Asian and African-American satisfaction has
also declined, although not as severely.
Satisfaction among African-Americans fell
to 85 percent and Hispanic satisfaction with
police has decreased to 73 percent.
While the police department found the
overall results to be disappointing, they were not
necessarily surprising, given the intense debate
regarding the illegal immigration enforcement
policy that took place in the County over the
course of the past year. An important aspect to
note, which was highlighted by the director of
the survey, Dr. Thomas Guterbock, is that the
changes in perceptions and the decrease in
satisfaction was not necessarily related to the
respondent’s actual experience with the police. It
was instead a reflection of the individual’s
opinion of the policy itself and its effects within
the community.
The department continues to take an active
role in building positive relationships within the
community. Public education has been a primary
focus since the policy was first introduced; a
public education campaign was initiated to
convey accurate information regarding the new
policy. Community expectations were diverse
and there was confusion regarding the role and
actions of police officers. Through a variety of
printed publications, community meetings,
media coverage and informational videos, the
police department demonstrated that it was
committed to maintaining a fair, lawful and
reasonable approach to enforcement by:
• Focusing on illegal aliens who commit
violations of state or local law.
• Protecting crime victims and cooperative
witnesses regardless of their immigration
status.
• Not tolerating racial profiling.
For the past 16 years, the Prince William
County government has conducted an annual
citizen satisfaction survey administered by the
Center for Survey Research of the University of
Virginia. The goals of the survey include the
following:
• To assess citizen satisfaction with
services offered in the County;
• To compare satisfaction levels with those
reported in previous surveys;
• To analyze which subgroups among the
County’s residents may be more or less
satisfied than others with the services they
receive; and
• To continue annual measurement of
overall perception of quality of life in Prince
William County.
The County uses the responses and analysis
of the survey to further improve the quality of
services that Prince William County offers to its
residents. Several new questions were added in
2008 related to the police department’s
immigration policy adopted by the Board of
County Supervisors (BOCS) in July 2007, and
implemented by the police department in March
2008. Additional questions regarding crime
victimization and reporting were also added.
Historically, citizen satisfaction with police
services has always been high. However, results
of the 2008 survey showed significant changes
in items related to the police, with satisfaction
increasing in some areas (combating gangs and
illegal drugs) and decreasing in others. There
were significant declines in residents’
satisfaction, both with police performance and
with police attitudes and behaviors towards
citizens. Although 80.5 percent of residents were
satisfied with police efforts to enforce the new
policy with respect to illegal immigrants,
satisfaction with the overall performance of the
Police Department decreased significantly from
92.3 percent in 2007 to 89 percent in 2008.
Other notable findings included:
• Overall satisfaction with police is related to
the race or ethnicity of the respondent.
• Opinions about the police, especially about
attitudes and fairness, have become
polarized along ethnic lines, with Hispanic
17
2008 Annual Report
CITIZEN SATISFACTION SURVEY
Overall Rating of Police
By ethnic/racial group, by year
100%
95%
90%
85%
80%
75%
70%
65%
60%
55%
50%
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
1 Hispanic
2 Black (non-hispanic)
3 All Others
Police Attitudes and Behaviors
By ethnic/racial group, by year
100%
95%
90%
85%
80%
75%
70%
65%
60%
55%
50%
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
1 Hispanic
2000
2001
2002
2003
2 Black (non-hispanic)
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2004
2005
3 All Others
2006
2007
2008
Prince William County Police Department
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Prince William County Police Department
1 County Complex Court
Prince William, VA 22192
703-792-6650