Police-Community Group Reflects On 2012, Looks To 2013

As the year draws to a close, members of a police-community group took some time to reflect at a Tuesday night meeting.

The year 2012 has been a good one for the Precinct 8 Police Community Relations Council.

In addition to monthly 'town hall' style meetings—held at Christus Victor Lutheran Church since January 2012, group president Rolfe Feser said that the group has been able to reach out to the community.

Most recently, they put together two food drives, held at area Giant Food stores in conjunction with the police department, to collect for the Carney-area food pantry Victor's Vittles and provide Christmas dinner for between four and six families.

Feser said the group has also been able to reach out to schools through the McGruff the Crime Dog program; so far he's spoken to students at Carney and Villa Cresta Elementary Schools.

Group membership has grown during the year—something Feser attributes, in part, to a number of interesting guest speakers, including a visit from the bomb squad (complete with robot) and a visit to the 911 call center.

In the coming year, he said he hopes to see event more interest—new membership enrollment starts in January.

Applications, he notes, can be downloaded on the group's new website (which also made its debut this year).

"[It's important] because it provides a way for [people] to voice their concerns based on what they read and hear on the television," Feser said. "It's like a town hall meeting where you get to speak to the captain of the precinct."

"I would like to see more individuals involved so they know the story behind what's going on in their neighborhood and be able to feel that they have a place to go to express their concerns," he said. "Instead of cursing the darkness, turn on the light."

Feser also said that in the coming year even more trips and guest speakers have been scheduled.

A full list of meetings and guest speaker follows:

• January 22: Robyn Engle will present a program on conflict resolution.
• February 26: Dale Raunzhan, director of School Safety & Security for Baltimore County Public Schools will be the guest speaker.
• March 26: Steve Hess, of the Baltimore County Police Department, will talk about human trafficking.
• April 23: The group will take a trip to the Police Range on Dulaney Valley Road to learn about firearm safety and use.
• May 28: Det. Fred Carter will discuss active shooter situations with the group.
• June 25: The group wil take a trip to Police Headquarters to check out the crime lab and forensics unit with director Irv Litofsky.