CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md. — Residents along the Prince George's County and D.C. line say they feel like the issues on crime are falling through the cracks as they juggle between the two jurisdictions.
Breane Brent, who lives along the border, said she understands the importance of reporting crime to improve public safety, but feels frustrated with the process.
"You call 311, sometimes you get the D.C. side, sometimes you get the Maryland side, depending on where your phone pings," Brent told WUSA9.
Brent says she has reached out to both local police departments with videos captured by her home security system, but that she often gets the same response.
"It's always a bounce between the Maryland and D.C. side about who is responsible," she said. "Is it where crime occurs or where it winds up ending?"
Neighbors voiced their concerns Monday during a public safety walk hosted by Prince George's County Council Chair Jolene Ivey. The chairwoman said the walk is the first step to strengthening the relationships between the Prince George's County and D.C. Police Departments ahead of the summer months--when crime tends to rise.
"You get different police chiefs, you get a different county executive, different mayor, different people at the councils and these things fall apart," Ivey said. "We really need to focus attention on this area."
The community walk comes hours after two different shootings along the D.C. and Prince George's County border left three injured and one dead in Seat Pleasant. Investigators say they believe both incidents are connected.
Around 6:45 p.m., a victim was found suffering a gunshot wound at Birchleaf Park. That person has since died.
Right across the street at Booker T. Homes Neighborhood Park, three more people were shot around 8:20 p.m. The victims are expected to recover.
Captain Lovita Bryant was among the police officers representing Prince George's County at the safety walk. She said that car theft has been a recent concern along the border and admitted that policing in the area can pose challenges for her agency.
"We are certainly limited because of D.C. government laws and federal laws that protect D.C.," Bryant said. "Sometimes we have to get additional warrants before we can get someone from D.C. If it's a fresh incident, or a fresh pursuit, it just happened. We might be able to cross over D.C. then."
On the D.C. side, Commander Jaron Hickman said information sharing between the two agencies is their greatest strength. He insists that no matter what the crime is, neighbors need to report it.
"When we are talking about when someone may have committed a crime in D.C. and fled to Prince George's County, if it's a felony, that's stuff where they can take them into custody and hold him until we are ready to present charges," Hickman said.
Both departments say are rolling out initiatives to combat crime along the border during the summer months, but said details about the efforts are forthcoming.
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