WESTBARD SECTOR

CRIME SPIKE

RAISES NEW

QUESTIONS ABOUT

POLICE FUNDING,

CROWN ST. ACCESS

Last week's armed robbery at a Westbard Avenue apartment building parking lot has raised new questions among residents.

First, it is fairly well known that - thanks to misplaced budget priorities by the County Council - Montgomery County's police force is currently underfunded, undermanned and underpaid.

In fact, the Gazette just reported that Montgomery County has the lowest ratio of officers to residents in the entire DC region.

Council President Roger Berliner, who represents Bethesda, is quoted as being skeptical of the need to hire new officers. However, I have heard county officers say otherwise. I think we should rely on the judgement of our professional officers. And on the assessment of Chief Thomas Manger, who has clearly stated more officers are needed.

A second burglary, at a business located in the former WDCA building on River Road, took place recently.

I've heard that more police will be patrolling the Westbard area at night, to address community concerns. I also know that the community officer for the area has been very proactive, and has even handed out business cards with a number she can be reached at directly.

In light of recent events, there is even more reason to oppose the Planning Board's plan to construct a Capital Crescent Trail access point from Crown Street. This is part of a complicated development deal between the board, the Citizens Coordinating Committee on Friendship Heights, and the developer of the old Betco cinderblock plant. I testified against the plan to give part of Little Falls Stream Valley Park to the developer, and against the plan to build a bridge between the Betco site and Little Falls Parkway. Not only did the developer get everything they asked for from the board and county council, but the CCCFH made it worse: they had jaywalkers' trail access granted via the parkway and from Crown St. above the site.

As you can imagine, Crown St. access could provide an easy getaway route for criminals stealing from persons and homes at Park Bethesda and Westbard Mews. I don't know how many people in those developments know about these plans, but I can't think they'd be too pleased about an escape route that would allow criminals to disappear into the night via the CCT, the creek or getaway car on the Parkway.

While trail access is a positive, the negative uses cannot be disputed.

Recent crimes, unusual for West Bethesda, suggest there is much careful thinking to be done by county officials in the near future.