A Message from Chairwoman Karen Gaal

Stronger Blocks Begin With Informed Neighbors

From Information to Action | July 2026

Dear Third District residents, business owners, PSA Block Captains, Public Safety Ambassadors, faith leaders, youth advocates, civic partners, and community members,

Summer is a season of movement and connection. Our neighborhoods are filled with community gatherings, visitors, young people enjoying their school break, outdoor activities, nightlife, major events, and neighbors spending more time together.

Summer can also bring conditions that require greater awareness and preparation—including extreme heat, storms, increased activity along our commercial corridors, traffic concerns, sanitation problems, rodents, and recurring public-safety incidents.

This is why our July message is centered on a simple principle:

Stronger blocks begin with informed neighbors.

You do not have to be a public-safety professional to make a meaningful difference. Community safety often begins with everyday acts of care and responsibility: checking on an older neighbor during extreme heat, reporting a broken streetlight, removing valuables from a vehicle, saving a 311 service request number, sharing verified information, or attending a PSA or community meeting.

Each action may appear small on its own, but together they create stronger communication, better documentation, greater accountability, and more connected neighborhoods.

From Information to Action

Information becomes valuable when residents know how to use it.

During an active emergency, crime in progress, medical emergency, fire, violent confrontation, or immediate threat to life or safety, call 911 and maintain a safe distance.

For nonemergency matters involving sanitation, rodents, illegal dumping, streetlights, roads, sidewalks, property conditions, or other District services, use 311 and save the service request number.

When a condition continues, record:

• The exact location
• The dates and times it occurred
• What you observed
• Which agency was contacted
• Any 911 or 311 reference numbers
• The response received
• What remains unresolved
• The specific action being requested

Clear and consistent reporting helps agencies understand the concern, allows community leaders to identify patterns, and gives residents a stronger foundation for follow-through.

What the Crime Data Tells Us

Our July Third District crime snapshot covers reported offenses from May 24 through July 22, 2026. The selected data included 737 offense records, consisting of 96 violent-crime records and 641 property-crime records.

The numbers are not shared to create fear. They help us identify where prevention, victim support, patrol attention, environmental improvements, community education, and coordinated agency response may be needed.

Theft, theft from automobiles, robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, and other offenses continue to require attention. Every number represents an incident that affected a person, family, business, visitor, or neighborhood.

We must use the data responsibly—not merely to describe what happened, but to ask what should happen next.

Public Safety Includes Health and Preparedness

Public safety is broader than crime prevention.

It includes checking on neighbors during extreme heat, preparing for storms and possible power interruptions, maintaining safe streets and sidewalks, addressing rodent-producing conditions, reporting unsafe food-service concerns, supporting victims, and ensuring residents with disabilities can access public spaces and services.

It also means remaining engaged without placing ourselves in danger.

PSA Block Captains and Public Safety Ambassadors are trained to observe, document, report, connect, and refer. They do not confront, detain, pursue, or investigate. Their role is to help neighbors recognize concerns, reach verified resources, and remain connected with the appropriate public-safety and government partners.

Every Neighbor Has a Role

This month, I am asking every community member to take one practical action:

• Submit one documented community concern.
• Attend a PSA or 3D CAC Public Safety Leaders Meeting.
• Share verified safety information with a neighbor.
• Check on someone who may need support.
• Begin the process of becoming a PSA Block Captain or Public Safety Ambassador.

Our success is not measured only by how much information we distribute. It is reflected in whether residents are reached, concerns receive attention, agencies respond, victims and families reach support, and neighborhoods become stronger.

For 45 years, 3D CAC has worked to strengthen responsible communication between the community and public-safety partners. We continue that work by listening, organizing, documenting concerns, asking necessary questions, and helping residents move from information to action.

Bring your questions. Bring your concerns. Bring your neighbors. Most importantly, bring your commitment to solutions.

We are stronger together. Third District, let us move.

Meeting Details

Date: Thursday, July 30, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: 1620 V Street NW, Washington, DC
Format: Hybrid Meeting

Zoom Registration:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZErc-uuqz4qG9XEdJIJsge6LCNiYFPbUn11

More Information:
www.3DCAC.org

Community Safety Reminders

Please continue to report emergencies immediately by calling 911.

For anonymous tips, call (202) 727-9099 or text 50411.

For the Third District Watch Commander, call (202) 276-7462.

For 3D CAC Block Captain and Citizen Advisory reporting, call (202) 854-1620.

Residents and businesses are encouraged to document concerns clearly, including what happened, where it happened, when it happened, and any details that may assist follow-up. Clear and consistent reporting strengthens accountability and improves public safety response.

Community Events and Resources

3D CAC also encourages residents, businesses, families, and community partners to stay connected to positive cultural, educational, and economic development opportunities across the District. Public safety is not only about response. It is also about connection, prevention, belonging, opportunity, and access to community resources.

Chairwoman’s Closing Message

3D CAC remains committed to community partnership, public accountability, and safer neighborhoods. We do this work by listening, organizing, documenting, asking hard questions, and building responsible communication between the community and public safety partners.

This is a serious moment, but it is also a moment for leadership.

Bring your questions. Bring your concerns. Bring your neighbors. Bring your commitment to solutions.

Together, we will continue building a Third District where residents, businesses, young people, seniors, and community partners are informed, connected, and supported.

In Service Always,

Karen Gaal, MBA/MPA

Chairwoman

Public Safety Director

Neighborhood Watch Commissioner

Third District Metropolitan Police Department

Citizens Advisory Council

of Washington, DC

1620 V Street, NW,

Washington, DC 20009

45 Years of Community Partnership: 1981-2026
Guided by Justice • Service • Accountability • Excellence • Protection • Respect