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DC police chief marks one year on the job by highlighting dropping crime rate – WTOP News

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DC police chief marks one year on the job by highlighting dropping crime rate – WTOP News


WTOP sat down with D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith, who’s marking her first year by touting crime data that shows significant drops in crime so far this year.

Marking her first year as the District’s police chief, Pamela Smith is touting crime data that shows drops in crime so far this year, compared to the same period last year, including declines in the number of homicides, carjackings and robberies.

The chief, who took the helm of the Metropolitan Police Department after 25 years with U.S. Park Police in 2023, said tougher laws, stronger prosecutions and improved police tactics have helped reduce crime.

“When you talk about the numbers — we’re at a 33% reduction in violent crime, we’re at a 38% reduction in robberies, we’re at a 48% reduction in carjackings,” Chief Smith told WTOP.

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When the chief joined the department last year, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Council were in the midst of rolling back some criminal justice reforms instituted in 2020, following the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis.

Smith said she’s not sure what to attribute to the rapid increase in crime in the city after 2020

“What I will say is that one of the things that I think has been instrumental is the legislation that’s been passed. … The emergency legislation that was passed, ‘Safer Stronger DC,’ ‘ACT Now,’ and all of those culminated into, what I believe, legislation that helped us drive down crime in the District,” Smith explained.

Holding criminals accountable

Recent laws like “Secure DC” and “Safer, Stronger DC” have, among other things, enhanced penalties for violent crimes and increased the number of people charged with a violent crime that D.C. Superior Court judges are encouraged to keep jailed before trial.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. also stepped up the number of Title 16 charges, in which some juveniles charged with violent crimes are charged as adults.

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D.C. crime data, as of July 17, shows that there have been 98 homicides so far this year, compared to 134 at this time last year — a 26% reduction. Assault with a dangerous weapon is down 27% and motor vehicle thefts are down 34%.

Total crime in D.C. is down 18% compared to the same period last year.

“I think what we’re seeing is a combination of a lot of different things. Individuals are being held accountable, they’re being held in the jails, as opposed to being released to go back out into their community. We’re seeing judges, we’re seeing the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Office of Attorney General leveraging prosecution that helps us when it comes to the same individuals committing the same crimes,” she said.

Staffing deficiencies and asking for the public’s help

The Metropolitan Police Department remains understaffed — as do police agencies throughout the region and across the nation — but Smith said D.C. is doing well in comparison to some other agencies.

“We’ve not taken a significant decrease. As a matter of fact, we’ve seen a 30% reduction in our attrition rate. We’ve not seen many people leaving the job or retiring from the job at a rate where we thought it would outpace that. And so that’s a good sign for us. That lets me know that we have members that still want to stay in this profession,” said Smith.

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She said one major step residents, business owners and institutions can take to help reduce crime is to join the CameraConnect D.C. program.

Under the program, video cameras such as Ring cameras, doorbell cameras and private security system cameras are registered with the city so that police know the locations of video cameras that can assist during a public safety threat or after a crime has occurred. The city also offers rebates to residents, businesses, nonprofits and religious institutions for security cameras.

“That is exactly what we need because that really helps us to drive down crime,” Smith said.

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Delaware victims lost in Washington D.C. crash remembered at memorial service

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Delaware victims lost in Washington D.C. crash remembered at memorial service


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A solemn memorial service was held on Sunday at the Fred Rust Ice Arena to honor five members of Delaware’s ice skating community who died in a collision between an American Airlines jet and a U.S. Army helicopter last Wednesday near Washington, D.C.

The victims — coach Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov, his students Angela Yang and Sean Kay, along with Angela’s mother, Zheheng “Lily” Li, and Sean’s mother, Yulia Kay — were returning from the U.S. Figure Skating National Development Camp in Wichita, Kansas, according to family and friends.

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Organized by High Performance Skating Center coaches Michelle Dumler-McKeever and Joel McKeever, the service drew a quiet, respectful crowd that filled one side of the 2,500-seat arena. Mourners from the Delaware skating community gathered to share memories, honor the lives lost and support one another in the face of this tragedy.

Reflections and remembrances

For over an hour, members of Delaware’s skating community walked the long black carpet to the center of the ice to deliver heartfelt tributes to their lost friends and colleagues.

“I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around the fact that I’ll no longer share the ice with him,” said Dumler-McKeever, her voice heavy with grief as she stood surrounded by others who knew and loved Kirsanov.

Sara Papillo, 24, who had trained under Kirsanov since age nine, shared touching memories of her mentor.

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“Never in a million years could I or any of us have imagined an accident like this. One that claimed the lives of our loved ones and left our small, close skate community in pieces,” Papillo said with her voice trembling with emotion.

Papillo also reflected on the budding talents of Sean and Angela, describing them as polite, respectful, and full of potential. “Sasha was so proud of them,” she added, recalling how he often spoke of their progress with pride during her training sessions.

Joel McKeever, Kirsanov’s close friend, colleague, and frequent travel companion, spoke fondly of their bond. He recounted Sasha’s sharp sense of humor and their daily interactions both on and off the ice, affectionately referring to him as his “work wife,” a testament to the deep friendship they shared.

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The lives behind the loss

Kirsanov, 46, was a high-performance coach at the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club and a coach for the University of Delaware Collegiate Figure Skating Team. A professional ice dancer, he competed for the United States, Azerbaijan, and Russia, earning numerous accolades, including a bronze medal at the 2003 Nebelhorn Trophy in Germany.

Angela Yang, 12, discovered her passion for ice dance after watching her siblings play ice hockey. Known for her dedication and talent, she quickly became a standout in the sport.

Sean Kay, 11, was remembered for his love of Metallica and his playful sense of humor, which he shared with his siblings, who are also figure skaters. His mother, Yulia Kay, worked nights as a nurse to support her children’s skating dreams, often sacrificing sleep to drive them to early morning practices.

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According to a GoFundMe campaign organized for Angela’s family, Li was a devoted mother who dedicated her life to raising her three children while managing her own business. She raised them largely on her own in the U.S. while her husband worked overseas, supporting her children’s academic and athletic pursuits with unwavering commitment.

Mourners praised Kay and Yang for their exceptional talent and advanced skating skills for their age.

“I have no doubt they would have achieved many of their dreams,” McKeever said.

Community support and GoFundMe campaigns

In the wake of this tragedy, members of Delaware’s skating community have rallied to offer comfort and support to the victims’ families and each other.

A GoFundMe campaign, organized by family friends, is raising money to support the surviving Kay children in continuing their skating journey in tribute to their mother’s steadfast dedication.

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A GoFundMe campaign has also been set up to support survivors in Yang’s family. Proceeds will benefit Yang’s siblings Tiki and Miller Wu and her father, Jianjun “Jacob” Wu who lives overseas.

Dumler-McKeever also organized a GoFundMe campaign in the memory of Alexandr “Sasha” Kirsanov for his wife and daughter’s expenses.

Other members of the skating club flew to the camp but booked flights arriving in Baltimore rather than Washington, D.C. As the Delaware skating community grapples with the profound loss, the memories shared and the support extended at the memorial service reflect the deep bonds forged on and off the ice.

The University of Delaware Figure Skating Club is offering counseling services to support those affected.

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You can contact Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com.



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Washington DC crash: Data from plane’s black boxes gives conflicting information on altitudes – as pictures of third soldier with Joe Biden and Ralph Lauren emerge

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Washington DC crash: Data from plane’s black boxes gives conflicting information on altitudes – as pictures of third soldier with Joe Biden and Ralph Lauren emerge


Preliminary data from the Washington DC air collision that killed 67 people gives conflicting information about the altitudes of the plane and military helicopter at the time of the crash.

In a news conference, officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said that data from the jet’s flight recorder showed its altitude as 325ft, plus or minus 25ft, when the crash happened on Wednesday night.

But preliminary data in the air traffic control tower showed the Black Hawk helicopter at 200ft at the time. The discrepancy has yet to be explained.

NTSB member Todd Inman also revealed that the jet’s flight recorder showed a change in its pitch but did not say whether this meant the pilots were trying to avoid the crash.

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It comes as the third soldier who died onboard the Black Hawk has been named as Captain Rebecca M Lobach.

Final moments before the crash

Information from the jet’s black boxes has been recovered but the helicopter’s is taking more time to retrieve because it became waterlogged after the aircraft plunged into the Potomac River.

Brice Banning, the investigator in charge of the case, said the plane’s crew “had a verbal reaction” in the last moments before the crash.

Image:
Brice Banning, left, and Todd Inman at a news conference on Saturday. Pic: AP

He said the data recorder showed “the airplane beginning to increase its pitch… sounds of impact were audible about one second later, followed by the end of the recording”.

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The NTSB also said five people were working in the air traffic control tower at the time of the crash, after reports that staffing levels were “not normal”. The NTSB did not comment on whether there was an appropriate number of staff on duty.

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New videos emerge of DC crash

The collision near Reagan National Airport in Washington was the deadliest US aviation incident in almost 25 years.

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The 60 passengers and four crew on the American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas, as well as the three soldiers on the army helicopter were killed.

US Army has named the third soldier killed in the helicopter crash: Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, North Carolina.
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Captain Lobach was from Durham, North Carolina


Last soldier named

Some 38 of the bodies have been identified, with authorities saying they expect to recover all the victims – but the plane’s fuselage will probably have to be pulled from the water to retrieve the rest.

More information about those who died has also emerged. The US Army identified Captain Rebecca M Lobach, from Durham, North Carolina, as the third soldier who died in the crash.

The names of the other two soldiers were released on Friday, but Ms Lobach’s name was withheld at the request of her family.

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President Joe Biden, from right, presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civilian honor, to fashion designer Ralph Lauren in the East Room of the White House, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
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Captain Rebecca Lobach (left) with President Joe Biden and Ralph Lauren at an award ceremony. Pic: AP

They said she was “a bright star in all our lives”. Ms Lobach served as a White House military social aide and was pictured alongside President Joe Biden and Ralph Lauren during the awarding of the fashion designer’s Presidential Medal of Freedom earlier this year.

Army officials have said the helicopter crew was highly experienced and familiar with the congested skies around Washington DC.

‘They still want answers’

In an emotional news conference, Mr Inman said he has spent hours with the victims’ families since the crash.

“I don’t want to have to meet with those parents like that again.”

The families, he said, are struggling. “Some wanted to give us hugs. Some are just mad and angry,” Mr Inman said.

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“They are just all hurt. And they still want answers, and we want to give them answers.”

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DC crash victim’s uncle: ‘A tremendous void’

Read more: What do we know about the victims of the Washington air crash?

Mr Inman became frustrated at points during the news conference, noting that the NTSB has made “several hundred” recommendations to improve aviation that have not been acted upon.

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“From tragedy, we draw knowledge to improve the safety for us all. That’s what we’re doing right now, we’re dealing with tragedy, but we need to improve safety,” he said.

“You want to do something about it? Adopt the recommendations of the NTSB. You’ll save lives.”

The recovery operation is continuing in Washington DC, with the remains of 42 people retrieved from the river so far.

Captain Rebecca Lobach died when a US Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet in Washington. pic: Davis Winkie
Image:
Captain Rebecca Lobach was onboard the military helicopter. Pic: Davis Winkie

As many Americans remained shocked by the deadly crash, a second aviation accident took place on Friday night in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

An air ambulance slammed into a busy junction, killing all six people on board, including a child who had just undergone treatment at a hospital, and at least one person on the ground.

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Army helicopter involved in DC plane crash was on a ‘continuity of government’ drill

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Army helicopter involved in DC plane crash was on a ‘continuity of government’ drill


Top US officials have said the military helicopter that collided with a passenger jet over the Potomac River on Wednesday was on a training mission for evacuating members of government in the event of a catastrophe or attack.

The US secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, told Fox News that the helicopter was performing a “continuity of government” drill designed to help pilots “rehearse in ways that would reflect a real world scenario”. Hegseth declined to go further, saying he didn’t want to get “into anything that’s classified”.

The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter’s unit, the 12th aviation battalion, is assigned a mission to evacuate top US officials from Washington DC to secure locations in the event of an emergency.

Those locations include Raven Rock Mountain, a facility in Pennsylvania constructed in the 1950s for use as a command center in the event of a nuclear war.

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Hegseth’s comments correlates with comments by Jonathan Koziol, chief of staff for the army’s aviation directorate, who told reporters on Thursday that “some of their mission is to support the Department of Defense if something really bad happens in this area, and we need to move our senior leaders.

“They do need to be able to understand the environment, the air traffic, the routes, to ensure the safe travel of our senior leaders throughout our government,” Koziol added.

A preliminary FAA report into the midair collision has found that responsibility for handling air traffic control for helicopters and incoming planes at Reagan National airport had been combined earlier than usual on Wednesday night when the American Airlines flight crashed into the army’s Black Hawk helicopter.

All 67 aboard the aircraft involved were killed, marking the deadliest American aviation crash in 16 years.

Typically, responsibility for handling helicopters and planes are separated in the busy airspace from 10am to 9.30pm, the New York Times reported. After 9.30pm, when traffic slows down, the duties can be combined. The collision occurred soon before 9pm.

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The FAA preliminary safety report found that staffing at the airport was “not normal for the time of day and volume of traffic”, the Associated Press reported. Staffing targets set by the FAA and the controllers’ union call for 30 air traffic controllers at the airport but as of September 2023 it had 19.

President Trump signed a presidential memorandum on aviation safety on Thursday which he said will undo “damage” done to federal agencies by the Biden administration. Trump has said “incompetence” may have played a role in the crash.

Less than 30 seconds before the helicopter and plane collided, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the plane in sight: “PAT-25, do you have the CRJ in sight?” The controller makes another radio call to PAT25 moments later: “PAT-25 pass behind the CRJ”, referring to the Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-700.

But there is mounting speculation that the helicopter’s pilots may have been looking at a plane following behind the American Airlines flight in the landing queue. Questions are also being asked about the altitude of the helicopter. It was cleared to fly at 200ft but appears to have ascended to 400ft, and into the path of the airliner.

As of Friday afternoon, rescue crews had recovered 41 bodies and 28 had been positively identified, the DC fire chief, John Donnelly Sr, said at a news conference. He said 18 families have been told their loved ones died.

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Among the passengers on the plane were members of the Skating Club of Boston returning from a development camp that followed the 2025 US figure skating championship in Wichita, Kansas.

The victims also included a group of hunters returning from a guided trip in Kansas, nine students and parents from Fairfax county, Virginia, schools, four members of a steamfitters’ local in suburban Maryland and two Chinese nationals

The army has identified two of the three soldiers on the helicopter – Staff Sgt Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland. The third soldier’s name was not being released at the family’s request, the army said.



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