City Offices and Facilities Closed on Thursday, November 28, through Sunday, December 1 for Thanksgiving Holiday
Thursday, November 28, trash, food waste, and recycling routes will be collected on Wednesday, November 27. Friday, November 29, trash, food waste and recycling routes will be collected on Saturday, November 30.
The 20th District Delegation and the City Council will hold a Joint Priorities Meeting on Wednesday, December 9, 7:30 PM. The complete agenda for the meeting is below.
7:30 PM Welcome and Overview – Mayor Kate Stewart
7:40 PM Public Comments – District 20 Residents and Organizations*
(Opportunity for the community to inform the Delegation of needs and priorities for the 2021 Legislative Session. Speakers are limited to 3 minutes each. Advance sign up by 5:00 PM on the day of the meeting is required, and space is limited.) Link to sign up to comment.
8:10 PM Presentation of Takoma Park Legislative Priorities
8:30 PM Delegation Comments
9:15 PM Summary and Closing
9:30 PM* Adjournment
Due to the public health crisis, the meeting will be held remotely on Zoom. The public may view the meeting on City TV (RCN – 13, HD 1060; Comcast/xfinity – 13, HD 997; Verizon Fios – 28), on the City Council Video Page of the City Website; on YouTube, or on Facebook.
*Immediately after the Joint Priorities Meeting is adjourned, the City Council will begin its final regular meeting of the year.
The City of Takoma Park Police Department has been accepted into the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project, Georgetown University Law Center’s national training and support initiative for U.S. law enforcement agencies committed to building a culture of peer intervention that prevents harm.
By demonstrating agency commitment to transformational reform with support from local community groups and elected leaders, the
City of Takoma Park Police Department joins a select group of more than 60 other law enforcement agencies and statewide and regional training academies chosen to participate in the ABLE Project’s national rollout. To date, hundreds of agencies across the country have expressed interest in participating.
Backed by prominent civil rights and law enforcement leaders, the evidence-based, field-tested ABLE Project was developed by
Community
Georgetown Law’s Innovative Policing Program in collaboration with global law firm Sheppard Mullin LLP to provide practical active bystandership strategies and tactics to law enforcement officers to prevent misconduct, reduce officer mistakes, and promote health and wellness.
ABLE gives officers the tools they need to overcome the innate and powerful inhibitors all individuals face when called upon to intervene in actions taken by their peers.
We are very excited to have our staff participate in the ABLE training,“ said Chief Antonio DeVaul. “We always seek out training that will increase trust and transparency within our community.”
“As we work to reimagine public safety and seek to rectify injustices in our institutions, we must also ensure individuals have the ability and skills to take action against bias and violence,” said Takoma Park’s Mayor Kate Stewart. “Our participation in the ABLE Project is an important step to ensure accountability and continue the culture change in our police department needed to serve every member of our community.”
Those backing the City of Takoma Park Police Department’s application to join the program included the NAACP Montgomery Chapter and the Washington Adventist Church.
Professor Christy Lopez, co-director of Georgetown Law’s Innovative Policing Program, which runs ABLE, explained: “The ABLE Project seeks to ensure every police officer in the United States has the opportunity to receive meaningful, effective active bystandership training, and to help agencies transform their approach to policing by building a culture that supports and sustains successful peer intervention to prevent harm.”
Chair of the ABLE Project Board of Advisors, Sheppard Mullin partner Jonathan Aronie, added: “Intervening in another’s action is harder than it looks after the fact, but it’s a skill we all can learn. And, frankly, it’s a skill we all need – police and non-police. ABLE teaches that skill.”
The ABLE Project is guided by a Board of Advisors comprised of civil rights, social justice, and law enforcement leaders, including Vanita Gupta, the president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Commissioner Danielle Outlaw of the Philadelphia Police Department; Dr. Ervin Staub, professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the founder of the Psychology of Peace and Justice Program; and an impressive collection of other police leaders, rank and file officers, and social justice leaders.
For more information about the ABLE Project, visit the program’s website.
See a list of the ABLE Standards to which every participating agency must adhere.
These articles share more information about active bystandership generally, and the ABLE Project in particular.
The ABLE Project Train-The-Trainer event begins later this month. By the end of December, the City of Takoma Park Police Department instructors will be certified as ABLE trainers; and over the coming months, all of the Department’s officers will receive 8 hours of evidence-based active bystandership education designed not only to prevent harm, but to change the culture of policing. Look for our progress in this critical area that will be on the web page soon.
For more information regarding the City of Takoma Park Police Department, contact Catherine Plevy, Public Information Officer at cathyp@takomaparkmd.gov
For more information on the ABLE Project, contact Liza, ABLE Program Manager, at lba17@georgetown.edu.
2020 has been a year. Together, we have faced many challenges, and continue to combat a virus that impacts the members of our community who are most in need. We know that while there is hope of a vaccine, we still have many months ahead and a long recovery.
In our darkest moments, we may be questioning and asking what there is to be thankful for.
But then we remember and express gratitude for:
The members of the community who provide food, housing, medical care to those in need.
The reuniting of families after a long battle with the virus.
Our frontline workers who continue to provide medical care, pickup our trash and recycling, serve us in restaurants and stores, drive buses and metro, and so many more to keep us going.
Each other. For the small acts of kindness from raking a neighbor’s leaves to planting a few extra flowers, or dropping off groceries to the kind word when needed the most.
These are the things that allow us to continue on. If you need help, reach out. If you see a neighbor who is struggling, reach out. Be mindful of your own wellbeing, including your mental health and the mental health of those around you. The City is here as a resource for all.
The City staff continues to keep the COVID-19 website page updated. Please use it and let us know if you can’t find something you need.
For the members of our community with family and friends in Ethiopia, we are here for you and pray for peace.
During the holidays, I spend time thinking of the Thanksgivings I had as a child. My grandfather always reminded us of the importance of family, helping one another, and being there for each other.
Takoma Park is a family. Our residents, staff, businesses – we are family. We are there for each other and we will continue to be there for each other.
On this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for our community. Our family.
I also wanted to share the picture above with all of you as a reminder of our family. I commissioned Chris Ha, a young graphic designer in Takoma Park, to design this art piece, and for me, it is a reminder of what we have to be thankful for this season.
Help local families in need; partner with the Takoma Park Police to give joy this holiday season!
From Monday, November 16 through noon December 23, we are collecting unwrapped toys for girls and boys between 2-12 years old. We are also accepting monetary donations to shop for kids in need and/or gift cards. Due to COVID concerns, we cannot accept toys that are not in their original packaging.
Please drop off toys and/or cash/gift card donations:
Police Department 7500 Maple Avenue Takoma Park, Maryland 20912 –
there will be a box in the police lobby.
** If donating cash and/or gift cards:
Please visit the Administrative Desk (only between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday) to drop off directly with a Police Department employee;
Please do not put these items in the box with toys.
Please place cash and/or gift cards in an envelope addressed “Holiday Toy Drive.” **
Thank you for your generosity. Be safe!
Contact: Catherine Plevy Public Information Officer Takoma Park Police Department
Do you have coats, gloves or scarves that you don’t need anymore…Please consider donating them!
The Takoma Park Police Department, in partnership with Adventist Community Services, is collecting clean, gently used warm coats in any size from infant to adult. The coats will be donated to people in need. This coat drive can make a difference in the lives of others by simply donating coats and jackets that are no longer needed. We will also accept clean, gently used gloves/mittens and scarves.
Drive Duration
Start date: Monday, November 2 End date: Friday, December 17, at 4:00 pm
A large box will be in the lobby of: Takoma Park Police Department, 7500 Maple Avenue Takoma Park, Maryland
Takoma Park Police Department will ensure that they are given to those in need during and after the drive.
Give warmth to those in need this winter! Thank you for your generosity.
Contact Info:
If you have questions, please contact Catherine Plevy at 301-891-7142 or cathyp@takomaparkmd.gov.
