On Monday, June 9, 2025, Cameron Station hosted members of the Alexandria Police Department (APD) as they presented the APD Violent Crime Reduction Plan --Operation Safe Streets. While it is a city-wide plan, this meeting focused on our area of the city -- the West End. Despite just a few days’ notice, many residents were in attendance, anxious to learn about the plan for crime prevention in and around our community.
Nine members of the APD were present in the Victoria Hebert Great Room, including: Police Chief Tarrick McGuire; Lieutenant Jason Sory of the APD Criminal Investigations Division; Lieutenant Tony Moore of the APD Community Engagement Division; Lieutenant John East of the APD Traffic Safety Division; several uniformed officers; and Ms. Tracey Walker, APD Communications Manager.
Ms. Walker introduced Chief McGuire, who began the meeting with the good news that overall crime in the City of Alexandria is down 25% from last year. He stressed that while public safety involves many aspects, Operation Safe Streets focuses especially on:
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- Community Engagement – coordination and collaboration with communities, officer foot patrols, business checks;
- Intelligence & Data – leveraging investigative information, focusing resources where crime occurs, collaboration with other city agencies;
- Intervention – focusing on high-risk offenders, providing resources to families, youth-focused programs;
- Focused Enforcement – direct patrols where crime occurs, focus on violent offenders, criminal warrant initiative.
Lieutenant Sory had the floor next, and he expanded on Operation Safe Streets, explaining the department’s “evidence-based policing” and APD’s precision approach. They have created a “box” in the West End, bounded by specific streets: Edsall, Duke, Reynolds, and Whiting. Based on data on places within our community historically impacted by crime, this is an area where the APD is especially focusing on resident safety concerns and practicing precision policing.
Questions were asked and answered throughout the meeting, and to no surprise, many of them related to traffic safety. Lieutenant East was the next speaker, and he addressed issues such as:
- The need for a school sign in front of Bright Start daycare to slow speeders;
- Cars from the local dealers using Cameron Station roads for test drives;
- “Firecracker” tailpipes on cars using Duke Street as a speedway;
- Cyclists who don’t obey traffic laws;
- Confusion over conflicting rules for scooter and bike rentals.
While there were many takeaways from this meeting, one that was repeated over and over by each APD member who spoke was the importance of communication and collaboration with our community. They reminded everyone of the slogan “If you see something, say something.” and how important it is to successful policing.
The APD non-emergency line is 703-746-4444, and there is also a tip line – 311. Callers to either line may remain completely anonymous, but the more information we can provide, the better to assist the police. The officers insisted that we should not be afraid to use 911 for anything we think is an emergency…even if it turns out not to be. They would much rather respond and discover it was not an emergency than not be notified and be unable to stop a crime or offer needed assistance. Our Community Manager, Steve Philbin, reminded residents to contact Management if there is something to report. This is not in place of contacting the APD, but in addition – as it can often facilitate response.
Thanks to Management and the members of the APD for a very informative meeting. Cameron Station continues to be one of the safest neighborhoods in the city. According to the APD, the more we look out for each other’s safety and communicate and collaborate with our police, the easier it will be to continue keeping our community safe.
Pat Sugrue is an original owner, moving to Cameron Station with her husband Tom in the fall of 1999. She was a member of the first Compass Crew and later served as Editor-in-Chief for nine years. Pat’s professional career was in advertising – 30+ years in ad agencies in every department except art (no talent at all!); but her favorite position was copywriter, which she felt made a good fit for The Compass. She warns that she is here to stay, regardless of the format!
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