"Assertive Enforcement" Efforts Net Arrests

A coordinated police detail of "assertive enforcement tactics" concentrated in neighborhoods affected by a recent spike in burglaries and robberies has resulted in at least eight arrests so far, according to Capt. John Spiroff, commander of Precinct 1/Wilkens.

Beginning in the last months of 2011, county police launched two-day details of "significant police presence" scouring neighborhoods in Riverview and Baltimore Highlands, Spiroff said.

"In the past year, we've been noticing an increase in street robberies and burglaries, particularly along the Hollins Ferry Road corridor, Lakebrook Circle, Twin Circle, and McDowell Lane," he said. "We were also getting complaints from public officials and community leaders. We don't want it to get out of hand."

The first detail was conducted from 3-11 p.m. on Nov. 17 and 18, and a second conducted from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Dec. 8 and 9, according to police.

During these details, officers from Precinct 1/Wilkens were supplemented with officers from Precinct 2/Woodlawn, traffic team, gun unit, violent crime unit, aviation unit, K-9 unit, investigative team, tactical team, warrant apprehension task force and other law enforcement resources, according to Spiroff.

The details involved "high-profile visibility with a mission of assertive enforcement tactics," he said.

Police made traffic stops, investigated loitering and other suspicious activity, and maintained a high profile as they patrolled the neighborhoods during the details, Spiroff said.

Police completed 52 field interview reports during the two details, as well as issuing 44 traffic citations, 66 warnings and 42 safety repair orders, according to Spiroff.

A traffic stop for any legitimate reason-a broken tail light, for example-gives an officer the opportunity to stop and question a driver and can lead to the discovery of warrants or criminal activity, Spiroff said.

Eight people have been arrested during the details so far, on charges ranging from possession of narcotics to outstanding warrants, he said.

Police cars equipped with license-scanning "tag readers" patrolled streets and parking lots looking for expired tags, outstanding warrants and other flags, Spiroff said.

"We'd been getting calls about cars with expired tags," he said.

When expired plates were found by the tag scanner, officials from the state Motor Vehicle Administration riding along with police seized the plate on the spot. About 240 registrations were run during the details, and 36 tags were seized, according to police.

"A lot of people didn't get their holiday cheer," Spiroff said.

The assertive enforcement details will be repeated as necessary in response to criminal activity in the neighborhoods, Spiroff said.

"We will be doing something like this again," he said. "We made a commitment that we're not going to tolerate it anymore."

Another detail was launched last week to address connecting Riverview and Baltimore Highlands.

According to Spiroff, there have been four robberies on the footbridge in the last two weeks. This detail is ongoing, he said.