Holding Police Accountable: Petworth Neighbors React

WASHINGTON (WUSA) - It was 16 years ago when the Petworth community welcomed a newly elected democratic president with open arms.

It was President Bill Clinton's first visit to the District since his election in 1992 and he spent as much time in the battling inner-city neighborhood as he did on Capitol Hill. Clinton stopped to talk with workers, owners and customers at an area laundromat, auto-parts store and seafood carry-out.

Today, residents who can narrate first-hand accounts of that day will describe how it feels like nothing has changed.

Dozens of people concerned about a weekend spike in violence packed a meeting held before officers with the Metropolitan Police Department and two city council members Wednesday night. One woman described how she called 9-11 when she heard gunfire in her backyard.

"The police never came," she exclaimed to the District Commander in the first few minutes of the meeting. Another resident who did not want to reveal her name complained that drug activity on her street had only been growing worse. Her family has lived in the same house since 1952.

The outrage comes after a number of shootings this weekend that culminated in a homicide Saturday night at the 4500 block of Georgia Ave. NW.

In response, Police Chief Cathy Lanier promised a saturation of police officers in the area. Some neighbors felt that "saturation" took a couple of days to come to fruition, after two City Paper reporters spent a couple of nights with a handheld camera documenting the lack of police presence.

By Wednesday night, marked police vehicles could been seen slowly touring the sidestreets, alleys and main thoroughfares of the Petworth area. Meanwhile, Police Chief Cathy Lanier spent two hours talking to residents at the 4th District's Police Station on Georgia Ave.

Her frank descriptions of how police run into difficulties getting information about unsolved crimes and how they are successful in deterring some criminals offered a refreshing outlook to many neighbors.

"We want to know how can we help," said one neighbor.

"Is there a list of who we can contact," asked another neighbor.

Some expressed concerns about how quickly the drug dealers and violent offenders are released from prison.

City Council Member Muriale Bowser represents Ward 4. She told 9NEWS NOW that the heavy police presence will remain in the area for a good deal longer until authorities believe they have a handle on things. She said she was encouraged by the neighborhood involvement.

"It's going to take a lot more than just police," she said. "It's going to take those in office and in the community to come up with concrete solutions to crime," she said.