Michelle Basch, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Metropolitan Police Department is making safer streets and better service its goals as it makes changes.
On New Year’s Day, the department slightly changed the boundaries of its police service areas or PSAs. These are smaller areas within each police district. The police department will reduce the size of its largest PSAs and the total number of PSAs will increase from 46 to 56, according to a news release.
The change is an effort to provide more police coverage in places that are busier, more developed and have more crime.
The boundaries were last changed in 2004.
Another change coming soon will be a new online crime reporting tool.
“You’ll be able to go online yourself and report certain types of crimes, lost property things like that…without having to dial 911 and wait for a police officer to come to your house (and) take the report,” says Police Chief Cathy Lanier.
Lanier says it will become available early this month.
“This will save a tremendous amount of man hours and policing,” she says.
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