July 15, 2008

To:  The Citizens, Staff and Elected Officials of the City of District Heights, MD 

From:  Jeff Dahn, Chief of Police, District Heights Police Department

This letter is to inform you that I regretfully, but respectfully, tender my resignation as Chief of Police for the City of District Heights Police Department, effective on July 17, 2008 at 2359 HRS.  As Chief, I have thoroughly enjoyed working for the City. 

We as a community were able to accomplish a great deal together in a relatively short amount of time.  These accomplishments include:

Accountability; Department / Citizen Relations; Transparency of Operations -

            General Orders book issued to each officer.

Improved the statistical tracking of department activities through detailed reports.

Formal community policing program established.

Held monthly community crime prevention and open forum meetings with             

   citizens (Chief’s Coffee meetings).

Implemented “Amerilert” text message based community notification system.

Launched a partnership with “Crimereports.com” to make basic crime report   

   information available to the general public through the Internet.           

Communications –

Department Internet website established.

New memorandum of understanding formalized with MD Park and Planning

   Police Department for the use of in-car mobile data terminals.

Efficiency of operations / trends in the profession –

Laptop computers issued to each officer.

Researched and recommended for purchase an automated report writing system.

TASER X-26 units purchased for officer use.

Received materials to start the CALEA Recognition process for small agencies.

Recruitment and Retention (Morale) –

Officer vacancies advertised on law enforcement websites.

Fully staffed the department for the first time in seven years.

Introduced a new daily working uniform.

Received the first ever “vote of confidence” from the rank and file employees of

   the police and code enforcement departments.

Serving Community Needs –

            Sent out and collected “citizen satisfaction” surveys, which revealed high marks

               for how the police department served citizen needs.

Established a detective position to follow up on unsolved crime reports.

Reported a reduction of UCR Part One crimes by 49% in one year.

Developed a new City Ordinance for the offences of unlawful assembly and

   loitering.

Assigned a member of the department to the United States Secret Service   

Washington D.C. Metro Area Task Force to investigate financial crimes,   

 including identify theft.

Applied for and received funding for the following grant projects:

-       Highway Safety (DWI, seat belt use and aggressive driving enforcement).

-       Safe Routes to School (for infrastructure improvements and pedestrian safety enforcement).

-       Livable Communities Initiative (funded the detective’s position for ½ year).

-       A license plate reader which will be used to identify vehicles that have outstanding issues in need of follow up (stolen, unpaid fines, etc.).

While we have come far, we must not stop here.  While I will no longer be at the helm of the effort, these successes must continue for the good of the fine community of District Heights.  Serious issues continue to confront the community. 

Crimes and incidents involving young offenders are a threat to the very fabric of our community.  Identifying alternative strategies to mentor, support and embrace our youth must be vigorously pursued.  The traits of hope, virtue, and compassion must be engrained in them in so that they grow from valued youth to being a positive influence.  They must be taught the importance of service and the benefits their contribution to others can achieve.  Every stakeholder in the community, regardless of age or position, has a civic responsibility to ensure that public service endures in the tradition of selfless leadership.

Thank you all for giving me the privilege to serve such a great community.  While the time has come for me to move on to pursue other professional opportunities, my commitment to serve the community of District Heights will not end with my resignation.  As always, if I may be of service in any way, I may be reached on my mobile phone, (240) 304-9148, or through the use of my e-mail address:  jeff.dahn@verizon.net