Washington, D.C

DC police chief asks small business owners to help stop crime – WTOP News

Published

1 year ago

July 10, 2024

DC police chief asks small business owners to help stop crime – WTOP News

During a panel on Tuesday, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith asked small business owners to let police have access to their cameras to help stop crime.

On Tuesday, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith joined Peter Kilpatrick, president of Catholic University, at the 2024 Potomac Conference on Public Safety.

As Kilpatrick was wrapping up his thoughts, Smith looked over at the panel moderator, Elliot Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC. He immediately shook his head, understanding that D.C.’s top police officer had one last thing to say.

“I just want to add one thing. I’m in an environment with private industry business,” Smith said. “One of the things that we’ve launched with the Real Time Crime Center is the ability to be able to connect your cameras.”

The theme of the panel discussion was “Collaboration for Success: Strategies, Resources, and Trust-Building,” and was in collaboration with the Board of Trade, Council of Governments, the Greater Washington Partnership and the Consortium of Universities.

During the roughly 40-minute talk, both Smith and Metro Transit Chief Michael Anzallo spoke of how the crime rates have dropped during this calendar year.

Smith said, to date, the Metropolitan Police Department has nearly 40,000 cameras that are connected to the Real Time Crime Center through CameraConnect D.C.

“We are asking you, your partners, your business, please connect your cameras to our Real Time Crime Center,” Smith said. “If you have business, mom-and-pop stores, we really want to use your cameras.”

Afterward, Smith spoke to WTOP and made another appeal to business owners.

“Please, please, please, allow the Metropolitan Police Department to have access to those cameras,” Smith said. “It helps us move into the area quicker and make the appropriate arrests of those individuals who are creating havoc in our city.”

Smith also spoke of the crime drop that the District has seen since January.

“We’ve had a 30% reduction in violent crime, 31% reduction in robberies. We’ve seen a very, very good decrease in carjackings at 47%,” Smith said. “We know we still have work to do, but we have to keep pushing.”

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Washington, D.C

Rockport Elementary students chosen to help decorate National Christmas Tree in Washington, DC

Published

52 minutes ago

November 25, 2025

Press Room

Rockport Elementary students chosen to help decorate National Christmas Tree in Washington, DC

ROCKPORT, Ind. (WFIE) – Officials with Rockport Elementary say the school has been selected to be part of the 2025 America Celebrates display at the National Tree Lighting in Washington, DC.

They say it’s part of a national program in collaboration with the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation, and the US Department of Education.

Officials say 59 schools created original ornament designs that reflect the culture and landmarks of their home state or territory.

Rockport Elementary’s contributions are now featured in the State Ornaments collection for Indiana.

Officials say each ornament was designed by a student to tell a story of our community and state and celebrate our heritage.

Eighteen ornaments were created to be displayed on the Ellipse in President’s Park in Washington, DC, surrounding the National Christmas Tree during the 2025 lighting ceremony.

“It is a tremendous honor for our students to represent Rockport Elementary on a national stage. Being selected is an experience our students and our whole school community will always remember. We were thrilled to learn that our designs were chosen to represent not only Rockport Elementary and Spencer County, but the entire state of Indiana. The opportunity shines a spotlight on the creativity, hard work, and pride that our students bring to everything they do. I’m so excited to see their art showcased at the national level, said Art teacher, Veralyn Neal.

The public is invited to view the America Celebrates display during the December viewing season, December 6 through January 1, 2026.

“Indiana” ornaments drawn by Rockport Elementary students(National Christmas Tree Lighting Website)

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Washington, D.C

More Trouble In D.C. At The BBC: Washington News Editor Exits After Complaints Over Management Style

Published

19 hours ago

November 24, 2025

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EXCLUSIVE: The BBC News channel’s Washington D.C.-based executive producer has left abruptly after complaints were made about the way he spoke to colleagues in the newsroom.

Deadline understands that concerns were raised about Adam Levy‘s management style, with a recent incident proving to be the final straw. Two sources alleged that he spoke to a young producer in a way that was considered to be aggressive after a mistake was made during a news shift.

Levy, who left earlier this month, declined to comment when contacted by Deadline. A BBC spokesman said the broadcaster does not comment on individual HR matters.

Levy’s swift exit comes at a tumultuous time for the BBC’s Washington bureau, with the UK broadcaster facing a $1B lawsuit from Donald Trump after a bungled Panorama edit of the U.S. president’s January 6 speech. Although the mistake was not made by U.S.-based journalists, they are at the frontline of now tense relations with the White House.

Paul Royall, the executive news editor of the BBC News channel, visited Washington this month to help steady the ship. His trip was planned before Levy’s exit, but sources noted that Royall was in the city in an effort to boost morale.

Levy was appointed as the BBC News channel’s news editor and executive producer in March 2023, playing a key role in building live programming out of Washington. Levy previously worked at CNN, where he was a producer on shows including State of the Union with Jake Tapper.

Sources close to Levy pointed to his career before the BBC as a team player without issue. These people said he was known for his passion and diligence in tough circumstances. One former CNN colleague said Levy was a respected colleague at the network, working with people at every level of the newsroom.

Levy’s exit comes at a time when the BBC is cracking down on alleged abuses of power following a workplace culture review earlier this year. In September, BBC chair Samir Shah said “very serious disciplinary actions, including dismissals,” have taken place since the review.

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Washington, D.C

Woman shot in Northeast DC, MPD searching for male suspect

Published

2 days ago

November 23, 2025

Press Room

Woman shot in Northeast DC, MPD searching for male suspect

WASHINGTON (7News) — A woman was shot in Northeast D.C. on Sunday afternoon, and police are searching for the gunman.

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said Fourth District officers were called to the 5700 block of Second Street, Northeast, around 1:46 p.m. for reports of a shooting.

When officers arrived, they found an adult woman conscious and breathing after being shot.

SEE ALSO | Physical punishment allegations continue at DC Public Schools

DC Fire and EMS paramedics took her to a nearby hospital for treatment. Her condition has not been released.

Police issued a lookout for the suspected shooter, described as a Black man with a gray beard, medium complexion, heavy build, wearing a gray hoodie. He was last seen in a black Mercedes.

Anyone with information is asked to call 202-727-9099 or text 50411.

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This is a developing story, and it will be updated as more information becomes available.

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