Contact: Lori Gillen, Silver Spring Regional Center, 301-565-7357;
For Immediate Release: September 20, 2001

County Unveils
Comprehensive Public Safety Plan
For Silver Spring ;
Statistics Belie Public Perceptions

In light of nearly $1 billion in both new construction and renovation already underway in Downtown Silver Spring and with the prospect of more than one million visitors expected in the coming years, County officials today released a comprehensive public safety plan for the area that, according to County Executive Douglas M. Duncan, “addresses not only real situations but public perceptions.”

Entitled “Protecting Our Investment: A Public Safety Plan for Downtown Silver Spring,” the plan was developed by a group of representatives from the public and private sectors, chaired by Montgomery County Police Chief Charles A. Moose. The goal of the plan “is to increase the public’s awareness of safety in Silver Spring and boost efforts to make it even safer.”

Duncan, who asked Chief Moose to chair the Downtown Silver Spring Public Safety Task Force said, “I commend the Task Force members for creating a very flexible plan that can be adjusted as times and circumstances dictate. It addresses the important role of the community in helping to turn around the negative perceptions that have existed about this area, and it is an important element in the revitalization of Downtown Silver Spring.”

The more than 55 recommendations in the report will be used to coordinate existing efforts, start new initiatives and gather needed resources to make necessary improvements.

Information and recommendations are categorized by the characteristics that contribute to a safe downtown.

For example:

• Image and Perceptions: Enlist volunteer public safety ambassadors – civic and senior -level business leaders – to head up programs and/or services to turn around the image of Silver Spring; Review the Public Safety Plan with community and business groups to arm them with positive statistics, stories and data to help combat negative comments.

• Safety Personnel: Add 26 people, over the next few years, to Police, Urban District Service Corps, Transit Police and parking security to build a team of 83 safety providers in Downtown Silver Spring.

• Communication and Collaboration: Formalize the Downtown Silver Spring Public Safety Task Force, have it meet regularly and increase involvement from the business community, merchants and private security guards.

• Community Policing: Maintain a sustained display of police presence; Increase deployment during maximum pedestrian periods and adjust for seasonal changes in pedestrian activity; Conduct surveys to assess perceptions of safety.

• Community Prosecution: Encourage swift prosecution of quality of life and nuisance crimes; Seek legislation to combat nuisance conduct that may not be considered criminal.

• Crime Prevention: Maintain current efforts to help companies assess security risks and solutions.

• Facilities and Design: Design safety features into new and rehabilitated facilities, such as public garages, the Transit Center, Downtown Silver Spring, Discovery, the Circuit Court and parks and plazas; Support development of a public safety facility.

Also, violent crime represents less than three percent of all crime committed in Downtown Silver Spring; theft and nuisance crimes (failure to pay fines, etc.) account for nearly 90 percent of the crime that occurs in Downtown.

Chief Moose commended the members of the Task Force for their diligence and their thoughtful recommendations. “Country Executive Duncan has kept the best interests of Downtown Silver Spring as one of his highest priorities. The members of the task force, along with the police officers and other public safety partners who work here, share Mr. Duncan’s vision for a vibrant, revitalized downtown area, “ Moose said. “The enthusiasm and thoroughness of the Task Force members is quite evident in this Public Safety Plan. I thank all who participated and I look forward to their continuing assistance.”

Joining Duncan to introduce the plan were County Councilmember Derek Berlage; Chief Moose; Montgomery County States Attorney Doug Gansler; Jim Todd, of The Peterson Companies, representing PFA Silver Spring L.C., developers of Downtown Silver Spring; Ray Timmerman, chairman of the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce; and Elnora Harvey, chair of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board.

Copies of the plan are available at the Silver Spring Regional Services Center, 8435 Georgia Ave. Call 301-565-7300.