Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Cascades set for community police officer
Cascades in Sterling may be the next community in line for a community police officer in eastern Loudoun.
Whether or not they get one will depend on the outcome of this year's county budget, which should be determined in April.
Members of the Board of Supervisors, however, showed support for the community policing initiative in Cascades this month during a non-binding "straw" vote. "The board took a vote supporting using one of Sheriff [Steve] Simpson's vacancies and assigning it to Cascades," said Supervisor Andrea McGimsey (D-Potomac).
Loudoun Sheriff Simpson included an officer for Cascades on his budget request this year, and all parties involved seem to be supportive, said Karl Nobert, president of the Cascades Homeowners Association's board. "A stronger police presence is always a good thing," he said. "It would enhance safety in the community. I definitely think having a community officer would help prevent crime in the future."
Nobert said residents of Cascades would support the effort.
Community police officers, already installed in communities like Ashburn Village, Sugarland Run and CountrySide, have a desk in their community and work with residents, members of the HOA and their colleagues in the Sheriff's Office to coordinate a policing effort. The program is designed to equip community officers with the firsthand knowledge of the area and its residents they would need to be prepared to assist with any investigation.
"An increased police presence might help make people realize Cascades is not a place where people intent on committing a crime would be welcome," said HOA board member Steve Olekszyk. "A deputy in the community on a regular basis might help with nuisance crimes."
McGimsey said she's heard similar views from people all over the Potomac and Sterling districts, including in areas not covered by a large HOA. In her view, she said, other smaller communities might be left out of the community policing effort in the east.
"It's a very good idea. They're more connected to what's going on, but we need to look at it at the larger community level," McGimsey said. "Criminals don't know the edge of an HOA's land. What about the little HOAs?"
Contact the reporter at ecoe@timespapers.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.