| JANUARY, 2000 | SAFETY AND JUSTICE |
|---|
| | |
| 101 | King | Not a Very Happy Year--homicides in DC down from 260 in '98 to 228 in '99--what's to celebrate? |
| 101 | Staff | City Jail Gets New Management Team--6 appointments make up all-new team |
| 101 | Thompson | Shootings by DC Police Decline 66% in 1999--11 hit, 4 killed vs 32 shot, 12 killed in '98: better training ? |
| 102 | Whitlock | DC Homicides Lowest Since '87--228 vs 489 in '91: PG down to 95 frm 107, all other suburbs 76 vs 77 |
| 106 | Santana | Chief Reshuffles Police Brass 2nd Time--'minor adjustment' promotes/moves 13 to best jobs for them |
| 107 | Editor | What's Story on 4th Police District?--five dirty badges in 3 mos? outraged over corruption/incompetence |
| 107 | Santana | DC Police Officer Charged in Drug Ring Over 10-yr Career--3 other cops in unrelated crimes recently |
| 108 | Editor | Cops on the Spending Beat: DC CFO finds threat of overspending early--current vigilance working well! |
| 109 | Hsu | Interim DC Fire Chief Plans 'Major Reorganization' of Dept--by end Jan: has mayor's complete confidence |
| 114 | Williams | Lax Laws Make DC Haven for Selling Marijuana, US Attorney urges Council to raise to high penalty felony |
| 114 | Santana | Federal Funds for DC Police in Jeopardy--Holder intervenes to save $22M when officials miss deadline |
| 120 | Staff | DC Police have issued violation notices to 38,000 running red lights, caught by camera in 6 mos. |
| 121 | Miller | DC Suing Gun Industry: Damages Sought for City's Carnage--gun advocates predict suit won't stand up |
| 125 | Dvorak | Interim DC Fire Chief Reshuffles All Top Mgmt--promises faster 911 response--bold move to keep job? |
| 125 | Fehr | Black Official Repudiated for Urging Cabbies to refuse 'dangerous-looking blacks'--mayor wants shields |
| 127 | Masters | General of War on Drugs Retires--DEA's local chief praised as low-key leader of DC/VA/MD area |
| 130 | Slevin | 94 Verdict Hinges on Jury-Picking Limits--appeal for limits on sex, race-based pre-emptive challenges |
| 131 | Lengel | Struggle with a Stubborn Drug Trade--closing DC open-air markets hard to do: best bet:improve nghbrhd |
|
|
|
| FEBRUARY, 2000 |
SAFETY AND JUSTICE |
|
|
|
| 201 |
Goldstein |
Deficits Cast Pall over DC Gen'l--patients down 24%, wrkrs up 13%, wages up 50% at PubBenCorp |
| 201 |
Goldstein(Cont) |
DC Gen'l uses 9.7 FTE's/patient--nat'l avg, 5.7--Medicaid records poor,DC pays deficits w/o authority |
| 202 |
Fehr |
DC Plan Requiring Taxi Shields Advances--some cabbies object re comfort--other big cities use them |
| 202 |
Celender(Gaz) |
Montgomery County Police Chief Shuffles 4 of 5 district commanders after 6 mos in job, promotes some |
| 203 |
Santana |
Ramsy Lashes Out at Critic of Asst Chief Gainer--tells perrenial critic to 'get a job or something to do' |
| 204 |
Santana |
DC Police Chief Defends Deputy against 'racist' critic. Force of 3480 is 67% African-American |
| 204 |
Goldstein |
MD's 263-bed Shady Grove Hospital Granted 3-mos Reprieve--but accreditation remains at risk |
| 208 |
Dvorak |
Officers, NAACP Criticize DC Police Management--racism, poor mgmt claims jeopardize dept morale |
| 209 |
Santana |
DC Police Officers' Group Slams Mgmt on Personnel Moves-too few senior blacks in latest shifts |
| 209 |
Pan |
Norton Assails Atty Gen Reno Over Death Penalty--Starbucks case reignites debate; DC strongly anti |
| 224 |
Santana |
DC to Pay for Help Catching Killers--$10K reward for homicide info--fund has $350K now, can grow |
| 225 |
Miller |
DC Corp Counsel Given 2nd Chance--judge puts aside $1.8M penalty in lawyers' fees for child welfare |
| 226 |
King |
Kids Who Know Killers--locals know many killers of 643 unsolved murders since '96 (1700 since '90!) |
| MARCH, 2000 | SAFETY AND JUSTICE |
|---|
| 301 | Perez-Rivas | System Fails MD Youth Probationers--task force report says MD system 'scattershot, superficial' |
| 308 | Williams | Council Sets 2-Yr College Min for New Officers (after 2004)-- Ramsey gets other aids for professionalism |
| 310 | Shin (CitPap) | Wilma--obscure lawyer from federal bureaucracy getting comfortable with tough DC US attorney role |
| 317 | Miller | DC Corrections in Trouble Again--judge irate over failure to provide convicted felon with medication |
| 318 | Tucker | Sentencing Shake-up Proposed in DC by Advisory Commission--advocates fear longer prison terms |
| 322 | Perez-Rivas | Troubles in MD Youth Detention at antiquated Cheltenham--advocates, others decry conditions for kids |
| 323 | Dvorak | 4 DC Fire Companies Budget Targets--DCFD proposing cutting investigative unit too to save $4,2M |
| APRIL, 2000 | SAFETY AND JUSTICE |
|---|
| 402 | Editor | Watching Juvenile Justice--MD right to create independent commission to monitor troubled institutions |
| 402 | Santana | Camera Ready--Or Not--280,000 drivers snapped running red lights for $19M in tickets throughout region |
| 406 | Schwartzman | Panel to Scrutinize PG Cnty Police--Curry plans task force after recent trials find civil rights violations |
| 406 | Dvorak | DC Juggles to Improve Services--firemen, EMS shifted to reflect calls for aid, not census pop'n data |
| 407 | Whitlock | Power Urged for PG Cnty Police Panel--some say review board needs subpoena authority to do job |
| 408 | Whitlock | NAACP Seeks Federal Review of PG County Police--asks Justice Dept to investigate brutality cases |
| 409 | Staff | Task Force to Investigate Police Brutality as Allegations, Verdicts Ring in Prince George's Cnty |
| 410 | Schwartzman | A Tenuous Trust--PG Cnty police have made gains, but residents remain wary of brutality, racial typing |
| 411 | Whitlock | Pr. George's Police Face Wider Inquiry--federal civil rights investigation of alleged violations possible |
| 412 | Whitlock | Complaints Against Police Rise 63% in Pr. George's--to 124: excessive force,66; abusive language, 55 |
| 412 | Montgomery | The Business of Demonstrators--as protests begin, some batten down, others see customers coming |
| 413 | Slevin | Chief Judge Retires from DC Court--Hamilton leaving early after bad audits by GAO--many relieved |
| 415 | Editor | Footing the Bill for Protests--Feds should pick up $5M bill for demonstrations against World Bank/IMF |
| 419 | Dvorak | DC Interim Chief Revamps EMS, Make firefighters paramedics? EMS response time twice nat'l average |
| 420 | Santana | 'Nice Cop-Tough Cop' Tactic Paid Off for DC Police--high marks for control of Wld Bnk/IMF protesters |
| 421 | Whitlock | Battle Brews in Pr. George's--state's attorney suggests police conceal truth--did prosecutor taint jury? |
| 421 | Mosk | Jails' Dilemma: More Inmates, Fewer Guards--facilities expand, economy hurts hiring--10-20% short |
| 429 | Santana | US to Help DC Buy Guns from public--hope to get 7000 back for $350K--little impact from last effort |
| MAY, 2000 | SAFETY AND JUSTICE |
|---|
| 506 | Stockwell | Independent PG Police Panel Rebuffed--Pr. George's chief upheld internal findings in most conduct cases |
| 506 | Dvorak | Interim Fire Chief Resigns Over Funding--Cntl Bd reversed mayor on $4M to add 5th man to ladder trucks |
| 507 | Tucker | Judges Lobby for Top Spot on DC Superior Court--new chief must rebuild image after Hamilton's 7 yrs |
| 509 | Ottaway | Major Fugitives Hide in Big Backlog of Trivial Warrants--all over US: 83,000 in DC metro area alone! |
| 509 | Fears | DC Firefighters Rally for Help--Cntrl Bd rejects funding request to beef up ladder truck crews--cites deficit |
| 510 | Miller | DC Drug Lord Had 15 Killed, US Charges--gang of 13 nailed by MPD+FBI=Safe Street Task Force |
| 512 | Santana | Fire Chief List Down to 3, Officials Say--Tippett says he was promised job before retiring over budget |
| 516 | Cottman | On Heels of Million Mom March, DC rushes Gun Buyback--hope to get 7000 guns--HUD gives $100K |
| 520 | Dvorak | Crime-Weary DC Council Wants More Patrols--Ramsey lashes back, accusing Council of micromanagement |
| 521 | Staff | Gun Buyback Reaches Only Fraction of Goal--got 1737 of 7000 hoped for (lower price buybacks offered) |
| 523 | Editor | Council, Cops, and Cosmetics--Catania's bill to get 60% cops on street not well thought out: get serious! |
| 523 | Tucker | Appointed Defense Lawyers Face New DC Court Rules--after Hill threat, spent $28M in '99 at $50/hr |
| 525 | Staff | New Leader Named for Drug Treatment (APRA) Agency--Siegel from Whitman-Walker to get $135K |
| 528 | Editor | Police Credibility on Line--real professional work of most Pr. George's cops shouldn't be tainted by few |
| 528 | WedderburnLtr | DC Has Gotten Safer, Honest!--crime down 46% frm '93: fewer jobless, poor, pub hsng; drugs--and cops! |
| 531 | Santana | Report Cites Budget Cuts in Firefighter Deaths--need more training, eqpt, and 5th man on ladder trucks |
| 531 | Dvorak | Fire Chief in Georgia Offered DC Job at $130K v $85K in Augusta--huge increase unwise? |
| JUNE, 2000 | SAFETY AND JUSTICE |
|---|
| 601 | Dvorak | Fire Chief's Job Still Being Negotiated--questions raised about Augusta, GA candidate EMS inexperience |
| 601 | Staff | President of Shady Grove Hospital Named--Deborah Yancer is veteran health care administrator |
| 602 | LosseLIps (CP) | DC Political Hospital--details DC Gen'l jobs given to DC Council friends,local unions, --little oversight |
| 602 | Drake (WT) | DC Fire Chief Candidate Subject of Probe--questionable distribution of pay raises under investigation |
| 603 | Dvorak | Police Get Old Hands in New Grads--DC pay change aimed at luring officers from elsewhere |
| 603 | Dvorak | Fire Chief Nominee Debuts--mayor says 'moving up' to department w/6 times employees--for $130K |
| 603 | Drake (WT) | Williams Names Ronnie Few as fire chief despite probe of pay raise favoritism--Council will probe |
| 603 | Miller | DC Detective Receives 2-Yr Term--as witness in drug crime trials, told juries he wa a pharmacist |
| 604 | Ramsey Ltr | We Need Flexibility to Fight Crime--far more complex than Council assigning arbitrary percents to street |
| 605 | Wilkins Ltr | DC Justice Setback--fed 'get-tough' sentencing rules add to racial disparities: DC 36:1 blk:wht in jail now |
| 606 | Stockwell | Prince George's Cnty Opens DNA Lab--defense lawyers express concerns over access, test integrity |
| 608 | Fletcher | Drug War Sends US Blacks to Prison 13x White Rate--28x for MD, 21x for VA, 1/20 blk men in jail, 1/180 wht |
| 609 | Drake (WT) | Few Appears before Augusta GA Grand Jury--pay raise charges--Williams says he's not implicated |
| 609 | Tucker | DC Sentencing Bill Vote Put Off--Cnclman Brazil to review racial disparity concerns: blks 36x wht arrest rate |
| 619 | Brazil | DC Councilman: False Rhetoric on Sentencing--new law would not increase jailees--bad race card |
| 623 | Cottman | Williams Vows to Curb Violence by DC Youths by year end--Southeast activists complain not included |
| 630 | Fehr | DC Jail's Medical Costs Under GAO, Hill Scrutiny--receiver spending $11M per year on 1670 inmates |
| JULY, 2000 | SAFETY AND JUSTICE |
|---|
| 701 | Miller | US to Seek Execution in DC Killings--alleged drug figure linked to 14 deaths--reviving controversy |
| 702 | Editor | Roll Call on Pr. George's Police Misconduct--gotta root it out and deal severely with it |
| 707 | Thompson | DC Homicide Cases to be Reviewed--Ramsey says some incomplete, shut too soon, closure rate 31% |
| 711 | Tucker | Parole Agency Chief on Way Out--Justice officials want him out while others claim he's done fine job |
| 712 | Dvorak | New Chief Meets Firefighters, Media--supports 5th man on trucks--6 times bigger staff here than Augusta |
| 712 | Staff | New Fire Chief Starts Work--Ronnie Few hopes to maintain low profile til confirmaton hearings in 9/00 |
| 712 | Staff | Sentencing Guidelines Passed by Council--bringing DC into line with federal standards: adds credibility |
| 712 | Leonnig | Plans to Move Inmates to Ohio Riles DC--Rep. Traficant wants to tap DC's $ reserve for move to his state |
| 720 | Staff | Serious Crime in VA Lowest in 10 yrs--346 murders,6165 robberies--(DC'98 alone: 260mur/4500rob) |
| 726 | Tucker | What Would-be Chief Justices Didn't Know--Hill plan to trim DC Court budget undercuts fixit plans |
| 728 | Editor | Blot on Judicial Ethics--new Community Rights Counsel report documents judges' conflicts of interest |
| AUGUST, 2000 | SAFETY AND JUSTICE |
|---|
| 802 | Staff | Police having problems with DC Schools--trying to 'hide stuff', 'cover things up', 'keep MPD out' |
| 802 | Miller | DC Jail Records Overhauled Urged--poor management results in mistaken freeing of inmates |
| 803 | Dvorak | More Police to Hit Street, Chief Says--1000 desk cops to get street patrol one week per month (!) |
| 806 | Tucker | New Sentencing Rules Take Effect in DC--set terms mandated, parole (w/DC commis'n) eliminated |
| 808 | Editor | Say Goodbye to Parole--big change coming--judges may overreact with too stiff sentences, beware (?!) |
| 809 | Editor | DC's Deliberate Indifference--DC lawyers discount guards' abuse of women: where are offenders now? |
| 810 | Staff | US Total Prison Population Climbs to Over 2 Million--up 77% from 1990: 46% black, 33% white, 18% Hisp. |
| 812 | Editor | 2 Stomach-Turning Tales--DC workers who withheld treatment, screwed up victim identity still on payroll |
| 817 | Staff | Fire Chief Continues to Probe Address Error--human error=20 min delay getting to nearby right number |
| 820 | Fehr | For DC Teenagers, Tougher Rules of the Road--driver's licensing program to be among US's strictest |
| 821 | Editor | Hard Times for Homicide--chronicles mistakes in recent murder case 'what a police force, what a pity!' |
| 822 | Dvorak | Added DC Police Presence Tried Again--'99 attack on crime had short-lived effect: cops down, crime up |
| 823 | Santana | DC Police Misplaced 30-40 Fleet Cars--out of 650 bought--some auctioned off very cheap after 5-18 mos |
| 823 | Lengel | Communities at Ease as Added Patrols Hit Streets--225 veteran police wryly return to uniformed duty |
| 824 | Staff | Missing Police-Purchased Vehicle Found--had been bought for Cable TV group at reduced cost |
| 826 | Miller | DC Jail Seeks to End Mistaken Releases--action follows rpt criticizing Corrections Dept inmate records |
| 828 | Dvorak | DC 4th Police District Gets Command Change--woman to head populous, diverse, troubled area |
| 831 | Tucker | DC Court Tells Hill Lawyers Will Be Paid--reserve helps cover troubled program defending indigent |
| SEPTEMBER, 2000 | SAFETY AND JUSTICE |
|---|
| 902 | Santana | US Attorney Lewis Doesn't See Need for a DC Night Court--new cops on 'power shift' make few arrests |
| 904 | Tucker | Inmates Languish, Backlogs Worsen--DC halfway houses, parole system flooded, transfer to feds slow |
| 906 | Staff | DC Has DWI Specimen Backlog--116 samples overdue--no toxicologist yet, using AFIPathology |
| 906 | Santana | Commander Appointed for High-Crime 5th Police District--Jennifer Greene gets 'most demanding job' |
| 908 | Tucker | DC Court's New Chief Praised for Collegiality--16-yr Rufus King veteran selected to head troubled facility |
| 910 | Santana | Police Transfers to Target DC Drug Markets--80 cops to move to power shift at open-air drug markets |
| 910 | Hankins ltr | Citizen Police for DC--use more civilians to do desk jobs, energize forgotten police reserve officer corps |
| 917 | Kovaleski | Inspections Find Dangers in DC Jail--chronic health threats tied to poor maintenance in plumbing, etc. |
| 919 | Kovaleski | Jail Medical Services Returned to DC Control--judge cites progress, ends receivership--only 2 left! |
| 920 | Editor | Unfinished Work at DC Jail: first lawsuit over inhumane conditions in 1971--city still hasn't done enough! |
| 922 | Dvorak | Probe of Ex-Employer Puts Pressure on DC Fire Chief--chicanery in Atlanta Fire Dept suspected |
| 923 | Staff | Baltimore Crime Falls 13% in 9 mos--but homicides up from 194 to 211: 'justifieds' now to be excluded |
| 924 | Dvorak | Redeployment Barely Sways Crime Rate at Month's End--uncertain impact, regular police work delayed |
| 926 | Castenada | Pr. George's Deputy Police Chief Retires Suddenly--for 'personal reasons'--but amid corruption probes |
| 927 | Tucker | 6.5% Raise at DC Court Accepted with Skepticism by 1100 employees--first raise in 3 years |
| 929 | Santana | DC Police Pulling Officers' Gas Cards--officials say credit system is misued for some of 1400 vehicles |
| OCTOBER, 2000 | SAFETY AND JUSTICE |
| 1002 | Miller | Appointments Rile DC Corp. Counsel Office--adding managers before filling lower-level vacancies |
| 1008 | Mize OpEd | Legal Discrimination--judge agrees 'veiled exercise of peremptory strikes' skew juries, weakens justice |
| 1013 | Staff | 1050 DC Court Employees to Get (another) 8% Across-the-bd Raise in '01 budget over 6% last year |
| 1014 | Fisher | Designer Juries Are Made for Shabby Justice--agrees with Judge Mize far too many peremptory strikes |
| 1015 | Tucker | $18M for Victims of Crimes Is In Doubt--unspent DC money from prior years to go to US unless Hill acts |
| 1017 | Santana | Unpaid, Outgunned--DC Reserve Officers looking for changes--114 unpaid volunteers poorly managed |
| 1018 | Dvorak | DC Police Fleet Exceeds Contract Maintenance Budget by $900K--but 94% of run-down fleet now up |
| 1019 | Tucker | Fight for DC Crime Victims Fund Intensifies--DC, Court, Fed officials join bid to protect unspent $18M |
| 1019 | Dvorak | DC Police Defend Car Contract--former gov't workers say private contractor overdid--police disagree |
| 1020 | Dvorak | DC Fire Chief Few Wins Support from Council Committee--3/0 vote goes to full Council Nov 8 |
| 1029 | Kunkle | Prince George's Police Chief Still Beset by Criticism--sees progress, but lacks support from officers |
| NOVEMBER, 2000 | SAFETY AND JUSTICE |
|---|
| 1102 | Whitlock | US to Probe Prince George's Police Dept--Justice plans civil rights investigation re excessive force, bias |
| 1104 | Kovaleski | Jail Health Care Deal Stirs Questions in DC--potential conflict of interest with chosen contractor |
| 1105 | Schwartzman | Prince George's Executive Curry Still Untouched by Police Problems--few believe he was involved |
| 1109 | Dvorak | DC Council Belatedly Approves Fire Chief--moot: already official since not challenged within 90 days! |
| 1110 | Snyder | Frederick Police Call for Chief to Quit--'mortally wounded' by allegations of surveillance of NAACP |
| 1113 | Stockwell | Federal Probe Lifts Hopes of Pr. George's Police Reform--but public tensions expected to increase |
| 1114 | Chan | DC Police Object to Proposed Liquor Law Overhaul--decriminalizing liquor sales to minors, for lobbyists |
| 1114 | Dvorak | On DC Streets, IDs Peddled to Immigrants--thriving street trade in fake documents on Columbia Rd,NW |
| 1115 | Editor | Wrong Way on DC Liquor Laws--opponents of decriminalizing sales to minors should gear up to fight |
| 1116 | Dvorak | DC Police Seek to Build Own $17M, 85-job Forensics Lab--to speed up evidence work over FBI lab (!), |
| 1116 | Shaver (Gaz) | Cracking Down on Montgomery Cnty Parents Not Paying Child Support--9K of 25K kids don't get $ due |
| 1116 | Dvorak | DC Police Seek to Build Forensics Lab--stop relying on FBI (!), get 60Ksqft, $17M bldg, 85 staff, $5.5M/yr |
| 1117 | Tucker | New DC Superior Court Chief Makes Right Moves--settles 56-judge assignments, raise for 1100 staff |
| 1119 | Editor | Police Probe in Prince George's--thorough federal probe can lift morale of honest, hard-working cops |
| 1121 | Staff | Pr. George's Police Chief Vows New Approach--church/civic groups offer plan to "bridge gap" to people |
| 1125 | Dvorak | DC Fire Chief to Cut Staff of 3 Fire Trucks--budget assumed ramp-up to 5 men, not all on FY day 1 |
| 1128 | Dvorak | DC Fire Dept Staff Cuts Anger DC Council--can't fathom double costs of overtime + training w/o ramp-up |
| DECEMBER, 2000 | SAFETY AND JUSTICE |
|---|
| 1201 | Wilgoren | Neighbors Herald Police Move--new command center opens in NE near NYAve--make hi-rsk area safer |
| 1203 | Thompson | Unsolved Killings Plague DC--detectives still fail to close cases: 57% in '90, 37% of half as many in '99 |
| 1204 | Thompson | Police Often Close Cases w/o Arrests--half pinned on dead suspects: stats better, families worse off |
| 1205 | Vobejda | As DC Police Falter, Revenge Fills Void--many killers killed by others, but no police linkage demonstrated |
| 1206 | Chinoy | Deadly Past Repeats Itself--failure to put suspects away leads to more killings, many arrested before |
| 1206 | Kain (Curr) | A Welcome Agreement--Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue signs pact to help DC til new fire station opens |
| 1207 | Staff | Police to Trade Greenbacks for Guns--$100 for pistols, revolvers, assault wpns; $50 for 'long guns' |
| 1207 | Editor | Getting Away with Murder--killers rule the streets while mayor and council play politics, police in disarray |
| 1207 | Thompson | New 8-man Team To Review DC Homicides--Chief Ramsey surprised by unclear case closures |
| 1208 | Miller | Convicts Released Without Hearing--DC parolee case load overwhelms US Parole Comm--118 walk |
| 1209 | Santana | Loaded and Ready for the Holidays--well-timed DC police buy-back prompts owners to get $ for guns |
| 1210 | Staff | Gun Buyback Nets 1554 weapons--most of dubious threat value--pay out $128K--in time for Xmas |
| 1212 | Staff | Officials Plan Uses for unspent $18M crimes victim fund that reverted to Treasury if Hill will recoup it |
| 1212 | Editor | A Parole Commission that Convicts Love--solution to backlog is surely not to throw open the cell doors! |
| 1215 | Tucker | Nat'l Juvenile Homicides Lowest Since '80--68% below '93 crack peak--DC down roughly 50% |
| 1217 | Reel | EMS Squad Faces Own 911--all volunteer units reluctant to add paid crew--3 busiest US units in DC area |
| 1217 | Smith | Slow Rescue Service Plagues Outer Counties--avg 1 to 1.5 minutes longer in Howard, Loudoun Cnties |
| 1217 | Thompson | DC Police Knew of Homicide Problems--flaws detailed 8 mos ago--only 1/3rd supervisors experienced |
| 1218 | Tucker | $18M Crime Victim Fund Restored--but Congress insists bulk of it go to those harmed--not budget sop |
| 1219 | Tucker | Lawyers, ACLU Try to Stop DC Bail Bill--Council proposal would allow more pretrial detentions |
| 1220 | Chan | Council Passes Overhaul of DC Liquor Law--new agency to regulate new rules, licenses, fines, etc. |
| 1220 | Staff | DC Council Passes Bail Reform Act Without Discussion--brings DC in line with federal standards |
| 1229 | Dvorak | 4 Years after Selling Fleet--DC Police to Buy a $2M new helicopter, use 2 3-pilot teams = 'force multiplier' |
