Duncan and Moose Thank Kenwood Community

Header--Montgomery County, Maryland. Press Releases

st/kenwood.pr 00-177

Contact: David Weaver, 240-777-6530
Bill O'Toole, 240-773-5030

For Immediate Release: April 24, 2000

Duncan and Moose Thank
Kenwood Community

Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan and Police Chief Charles Moose today thanked residents of the Kenwood Park neighborhood of Bethesda for their patience and support during the two-week long stay of Juan Miguel Gonzalez. Duncan and Moose also announced that the special police operations in the neighborhood have officially been shut down. Since Thursday, April 6, the home had been housing the father of Elian Gonzalez, the young Cuban boy who is the subject of an international custody battle. Gonzalez left Bethesda on Saturday, April 22 to take custody of his son.

"Although our efforts to provide traffic and crowd control around the residence were necessary to ensure public safety and to maintain some neighborhood normalcy, we recognize that limiting access was an inconvenience to many of the residents," said Duncan. "The residents of Kenwood Park were gracious hosts and extraordinary neighbors."

Duncan and Moose also praised the Montgomery County Police Department and other County agencies that worked hard to mitigate the impacts this incident had on the Kenwood Park community.

"I am very proud of the excellent work of our police officers," said Moose. "Throughout this incident, they were able to maintain order and safety, and their performance was illustrative of the high degree of their professionalism."

Duncan and Moose sent a letter, which is being distributed today, to the residents of Kenwood Park expressing their appreciation for the residents' patience during the past several weeks.

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