April 2024

Dear Franconia Community,

This year has kicked off with a lot of activity in the Franconia District. In this month’s Message from the Commander, I will discuss some of the recent events.

First and foremost, I want to address the recent “street takeover” incident that occurred on March 31^st and has garnered significant attention in the local press and on social media platforms. If you are unfamiliar with the incident, click to see the FCPD press release about it.  It was a very challenging situation for the officer first on the scene and for all the units that responded. I want to commend each of them for their swift and effective response in managing this unique situation. Their professionalism and dedication were inspirational. I encourage you to watch Chief Davis’s press conference on the incident. It clearly reflects the Police Department’s stance on such events. These events are unacceptable for the safety of the community and our officers. If you have information about such events, please report it to 9-1-1, the non-emergency number (703-691-2131) or the Tip Line (1-866-411-TIPS).

In the broader view, the overall crime numbers for the Franconia District are down in virtually all significant categories compared to the first quarter of 2023. This is a direct reflection of the community's cooperation and Franconia Station’s commitment to being the best cops in the department. I am privileged to lead such a dedicated group of officers. I have urged them to maintain a strong presence in the community. I believe there is a direct correlation between community involvement, proactive policing, and the decrease in crime statistics.

Additionally, I must highlight the excellence the Franconia District demonstrated in Wave One of the 2024 Road Shark traffic safety campaign. Franconia outpaced all other districts regarding proactivity, visibility, citations, and criminal enforcement - to the extent that Chairman McKay mentioned it in his countywide address. I am incredibly proud of the officers of the Franconia District; their dedication and commitment to the safety of our district are truly commendable. Our efforts are making a significant difference, and I am confident that together, we can continue to make the Franconia District a safer place. THANK YOU!

April holiday observances conclude with Passover beginning on the 22^nd and ending at the end of the month. It will certainly be a busy month as we transition from the early spring to school graduation and summer travel planning. I encourage everyone to stay vigilant and continue working together to keep our community safe. Let's maintain the momentum and continue making Franconia District a safe place for all residents.

Respectfully,

Kevin

Captain K. Shaw Commander, Franconia District Station

• Commander's Message - A Busy First Quarter
• Officer of the Month - Tracking Down a Serial Fraudster
• FCPD Information Releases - Arrests, Scams, Safety Tips, and Much More
• Crime Prevention - Retail Theft
• Community Events - National Drug Take Back Day, Scam Jam, Child Seats
• Community Advisory Committee - April Meeting
• Crime Reporting - Franconia March Incidents, Cold Case Squad
• Crime Statistics - March Calls for Service, Arrests, and Incidents
• Recruiting

Editorial Note: This month the Franconia Community Report is transitioning to a new delivery platform. There will be some changes in format, subscription links and other details. Please use the comments section below to let us know of any problems with the change.

The Franconia Officer of the Month is Officer Andrew Cox. Officer Cox routinely leads his squad in DUI citations and felony arrests. His proactive approach to policing the Lorton community motivated him to track down and apprehend a wanted felon. The offender defrauded numerous community members throughout Fairfax County. The losses from these fraud cases totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen money and property damage. The offender targeted our most vulnerable community members, specifically targeting the elderly and those with mental health challenges. This arrest helped to close eight separate cases in Fairfax County and led to the identification of additional offenders. The arrest and the evidence collected by Officer Cox also provided valuable leads that will help to close numerous cases in surrounding jurisdictions.

Officer Cox's actions and attention to detail have ensured that numerous victims receive justice.  For these reasons, Officer Andrew Cox has been selected as Franconia’s Officer of the Month.

FCPD posts official news releases are posted on WordPress. Here are links to some recent postings which may be of particular interest to the Franconia community:

Retail Theft Theft of goods from retail stores is a constant problem throughout the region. It is difficult to be sure how much of retail inventory "shrink" is due to theft from shelves versus other causes, but the impact is significant both in direct dollar losses and in the psychological impact on employees and others.

There are different types of retail theft ranging from the individual shoplifter who takes items for personal use to the sometimes-alarming cases of organized gangs taking large quantities of items for resale through various outlets - fences, online sites, complicit stores or even by shipping to foreign countries.

What to Do

For the community - If you witness an event which you believe is or may be retail theft: 

• Ensure that the store staff is aware of the activity. Avoid confronting the suspected thief directly. Be aware that different stores have different internal procedures for reacting to theft.
• Be a good witness. Observe carefully so that later you can give an accurate description of the suspects involved. Watch where they go and what vehicles are used. If you can safely do so, take photos or video of the event.
• Avoid supporting theft by refusing to purchase items that are at a suspiciously low price, or you otherwise believe may be stolen.

For retail owners and managers - Have a Theft Prevention Plan with:

1. The protocol that workers should follow such with respect to detaining suspected shoplifters and getting police involvement as well as anti-theft procedures for returns, refunds, bag checking, and other potentially vulnerable areas. 
2. Train Staff - Familiarize employees with common shoplifting tactics and with the need to be mindful of cash registers and dressing room areas. Also, train staff on personal safety procedures.
3. Track Retail Inventory - Put vulnerable items under lock or in easily monitored areas. Use security tags, RFID devices or other tracking to detect improper removal.
4. Examine the store's interior layout for risk areas. Place customer checkouts near exits. Position mirrors and security cameras within the premises, and post signs - a study by the Loss Prevention Research Council indicated that over 50% of shoplifters would either go to another store or not steal anything if surveillance signs were present in the area.
5. Report theft to police promptly and be active in prosecuting thieves.

For everyone - Call 9-1-1 in emergencies or the non-emergency number, 703-691-2131, to report suspicious activity.

Community Events

Saturday, April 27, 2024,10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.  National Drug Take Back Day: At Franconia Governmental Center, Police and Fire Stations, and at other locations.

 Drug take back programs are a safe method for disposing of prescription drugs, and are organized and closely monitored by local, state, and federal government agencies. Safe disposal of unused or expired medications prevents drug misuse and accidental poisoning and protects the environment.

April 19th: AARP Scam Jam

Presented by AARP Virginia and Fairfax County’s Silver Shield Task Force.  You are invited to the 7th Annual Scam Jam. Join us to learn how you can fight back against con artists. Con artists don’t care how hard you’ve worked for your money. They steal billions of dollars from hard-working Americans every year. With advances in artificial intelligence (AI), scams can be hard to identify. This year's Scam Jam will have experts from George Mason University, the American Bankers Association and the FBI. A shred truck will be on-site from 12 to 3:00 p.m. Participants must register.

April 6th and April 20th: Child Safety Seat Installation and Inspection Franconia Governmental Center, 6121 Franconia Road, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Inspections are done on a first come, first served basis. Be sure to install the child safety seat yourself beforehand so the inspection can be performed. If necessary, the seat will be properly re-installed and you will be shown how to install the seat properly in the future. It has been estimated that more than 70% of child safety seats are improperly installed.

CONNECT WITH US!

For more information about events or for other crime prevention information and assistance, contact the Franconia District Station Crime Prevention and Outreach Office:

Crime Prevention Officer:

MPO Sean Corcoran [sean.corcoran@fairfaxcounty.gov] 

Community Outreach Officer

PFC Kevin Rosa [FCPDFranconiaCPO@fairfaxcounty.gov]

CAC meetings are normally held on the third Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM in the Franconia Governmental Center, 6121 Franconia Road. Next CAC Meeting: Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 7pm  Franconia Governmental Center, 6121 Franconia Road

March Crime Report

The Franconia District Crime Report contains summaries of incidents that have occurred in the Franconia Police District. Crime reports are also posted periodically on nextdoor.  Incident information is based on initial reports and may be subject to change. The reports are not a comprehensive list of every police event.

Cold Case Information

"Gone but not Forgotten"

The FCPD Cold Case Squad, founded in 1995, falls under the Major Crimes Bureau of FCPD. The squad is responsible for the investigations of unresolved homicides and unsolved sex crimes in Fairfax County. Click on the image for more information about the unit and about individual cold cases.

Perhaps the most publicized Franconia District cold cases are the Marion Murders of 2006 that involved the murder of two women of similar age and appearance named Marion. New evidence in the case was developed in 2019 using advanced DNA techniques. Click on the image for more information about the case.

Franconia Calls for Service, Incident and Arrest Trends

March Arrests

March Calls for Service

March Incidents

Group A (More Serious) Incidents Detail

The chart below provides further detail on Group A incidents by category and Patrol Service Area location. In March, YTD Group A crime decreased in all categories except Drug/Narcotics Offenses. Group A crime also decreased in all Patrol Service Areas. In total, Group A crime decreased 16%.

* Group A incidents are more serious offenses as designated by the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS), Group B are less serious incidents, and Non-Reportable incidents are those that do not require reporting under NIBRS.

To see the call types included in each Call for Service category click  HERE.

For a list of Group A and B Incidents click  HERE.

For information on how these statistics are compiled, click HERE .

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