County Executive Rushern Baker III announced leadership changes in an attempt to reduce crime further for Prince George’s County, Maryland for 2016 amidst the county’s historical all-time low crime rate in 2015. Leadership changes include, Barry Stanton as deputy chief administrative officer for Public Infrastructure; Thomas Himler as deputy chief administrative officer for Budget, Finance and Administration, and Economic Development; Mark A. Magaw (former police chief) as County Executive Baker’s Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) for Public Safety; H.P. “Hank” Stawinski, III as acting chief of the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD), and Gevonia R.Whittington as the acting director of the Prince George’s County Department of Homeland Security. All positions were effective as of Jan. 4.
“For the remainder of my term as county executive, there will be ongoing public safety challenges,” Baker said in a news release on Dec. 11. “I believe this new public safety leadership re-alignment will continue our success and offer professional experience, excellent expertise and innovative approaches to protecting our citizens.”
The changes come on the heels of a relatively low crime year for the county. According to police records, there were 986 armed and unarmed robberies in 2015. While there were 1,197 in 2014. Magaw said he attributes the drop in crime to the Crimesolvers program the police department initiated.
However, according to reports from the police department, there were 77 homicides in 2015, 54 in 2014 and 56 in 2013.
“There will not be greater changes. There will be greater focus,” Stawinski said at a press conference regarding tackling crime and homicides in the county. “There’ll be new responsibility. There’ll be enhanced strategies . . . keeping things moving in the right direction, consistently, and in a measured way.”
Michelle Mundey, facility director of Temple Hills Community Center & Steven Decatur Community Center, said the 2016 focus will be to retain youth in positive community-centered activities. “The centers counsel students who are either peer pressure or want to disassociate . . . from crimes that occurs in the area” she said.
The centers have come up with several strategies to help keep youth members out of crime: handing out free membership cards that will enable them to access counseling services, fitness centers, athletic programs, and various developmental programs. Mundey said she is open to new ways of recruiting both staff and participants to keep youth out of trouble in the area.
Danielle Lockett contributed to this article.
