Dumfries Virginia - Virginia's Oldest Chartered Town

As I write this, the calendar says that it is still not summer, though the thermometer tells me that it is already hotter than I prefer. The weather has been unusual if nothing else.

This leads me to the unfortunate weather of May 11 and 12 when Quantico Creek overflowed its banks, causing several residents to have to evacuate their homes, waters running over Mine Road, portions of Main Street and Possum Point Road, and the destruction of the ball field in Garrison Park. The Town has clean up the mud and sediment on Mine Road, and the drainage culverts on Possum Point Road are to be replaced by the County later this summer. The ball field remains closed as we continue to work with our landscape architect in evaluating the redevelopment of the park. The park issue should come before the Town Council for discussion by the end of the summer. For those citizens who had water damage from the flood, you may have found that your regular homeowner’s insurance does not provide coverage for any damage. You may wish to consult with your insurance agent about the availability of flood insurance, especially if your home is in a designated flood plain.

Over the coming months, the police department will be moving out of its present location and locating to rental space in order to have the room necessary to effectively perform its duties and responsibilities. This move will in no way reduce service to the community and will, in many instances, enhance response time.

On July 1, the Town Council will be welcoming three new Council members and saying goodbye to three veterans. We should all celebrate in the ability of our system of government to accommodate change without violence and turmoil and thank those who have been willing to put themselves into elected positions where they will confront many complex policy issues.

Some of the issues that the Town continues to examine and discuss include the need for additional space for general town staff purposes, the desire to expand and redevelop recreational space, a need to enhance programs for children and youth to try to reduce problems of delinquency and vandalism, a continued slow economy and housing market, a need to provide enhanced work opportunities for all citizens, growing traffic problems with decreased revenues to address the problems, a desire to create a true downtown image for the town, and a need to enhance our efforts to protect the environment. None of these issues is simple and the Town needs your participation and support if we are to be successful in our endeavors.

On behalf of all of the staff of the Town, I encourage your participation in helping to make the Town of Dumfries the destination of choice in Northern Virginia.

Neighborhood Watch Program

The Dumfries Police Department is once again attempting to mobilize the neighborhood watch program in our community. Neighborhood Watch is a program that improves and creates neighborhood cohesiveness; it reduces levels of fear of crime in communities, it increases natural surveillance in the community, it reduces crime, it helps to prevent crime and most of all it supports Homeland Security. If you are interested in joining or starting the program in your community, we invite you to attend our next Neighborhood Watch Meeting on April 19, 2008 at 1:00 pm. The meeting will be held at the Williamstown Pool. If you would like more information please contact 1st Sgt. Aracelis Marcano Worley at 703-221-1111 ext. 122.

Keeping our Kids Safe

Now that the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer, we’d like to kindly ask parents to help us keep your children safe by reminding your kids of some of the simple rules of the Town: Please abide by the curfew law (Sunday-Thursday 11:00pm, Friday & Saturday 12 midnight), discourage reckless bicycle/skateboard riding, do not take part in defacing property or vandalism, avoid loitering, and stay in school.

Finding productive activities for the kids can oftentimes prove to be difficult. The General Heiser Boys and Girls Club recently began offering its programs to local middle-school aged students. These programs will be run out of Graham Park Middle School. Programs run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Space is still available and scholarships are available. For more information, contact Heiser Club Manager Michael Crumble at 703-441-0611. There are also several youth mentoring programs within the Town that provide fun activities and outings for the kids. Pastor Rod Spratley and his wife Jenifer founded Focus Ministries International to encourage kids to engage in healthy behavior and become productive members of the community. Visit their website at www.1focus.org for more information. The E.N.S. program led by Mr. Leonard Daniels is also a youth mentoring program that focuses on the youth of tomorrow. Please visit their website at www.ens-foa.net for more information.

We thank you for your assistance in helping to keep the kids safe. Should any citizen need to report suspicious activity or witnesses a crime, please contact Prince William County Dispatch at 703-792-6500.

by 1st Sgt. Aracelis M. Worley

Police Department Auxiliary Program

After a brief suspension, the police department’s auxiliary program has been reinstated.

Officer Ray Humphries and Detective Mark McCoy have been selected to coordinate and manage the new program. They have been working closely with the auxiliary officers to ensure that they are properly trained.

There are many facets to the program. Some of the officers will be working uniform patrol, therefore they will require additional training through the Department of Criminal Justice Services, while others will be utilized for special programs, such as Charter Day, Christmas in Dumfries and National Night Out, just to name a few.

The senior’s program is one that is closest to Auxiliary Officer Bert Benson’s heart. He had a tremendous impact on this program in the past. Bert attends the senior meetings with Community Services Director, Cathy Holtzlander, and through a grant, was successful in obtaining many needed items for the seniors in town.

Many people choose law enforcement as their career. The men and women who work in the capacity of auxiliary officer volunteer their free time to help our officers serve and protect the citizens of the Town of Dumfries.

Penny Shaffer
Executive Assistant to the Chief of Police

TOP