Neighborhood Watch Walk Brings Together Police, Residents

It was a back-to-the-basics, boots-on-the-ground neighborhood walk for police and 15 residents of College Heights Estates Wednesday evening. The Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) organized the Neighborhood Watch Walk to promote open communication among residents.

“Any opportunity to come together to exchange information, share ideas, detect problems of a criminal nature and come up with a joint solution is good," said Capt. Marc Limansky of the University of Maryland Department of Public Safety, which participated in the walk.

Because College Heights Estates is in an unincorporated part of the county, representatives from four jurisdictions talked or walked through the neighborhood: Prince George’s County Police, University Park Police Department, University of Maryland’s Department of Public Safety and the Prince George’s County Sheriff’s Department.

“Criminals aren’t bound by jurisdiction, but we are,” Limansky said.

Before the walk, officers and residents discussed recent car break-ins and other crimes and problems that have plagued the area in recent months.

Officer Jaron Black of PGPD told those gathered to always report suspicious activity that takes place in their neighborhood and to communicate with police about any problems or issues. PGPD also has a news blog, a Crime Solvers Facebook page and a Twitter account. Black said the walk is about building community.

“It’s invaluable,” said Beverly Silverberg, president of the College Heights Estates Association. “We’re getting to know who the officers are in our community. There’s nothing like a face-to-face interaction and we’re grateful that the police are willing to come out here and talk to us.”

This is the fourth scheduled walk. Another is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday in Riverdale Park.