The Herndon Police Department plans to join a regional team that will investigate officer-involved investigations, a move that the department hopes will create an expert-led, independent and objective process for investigations.
For over a year, police chiefs from Northern Virginia worked to create a Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) to investigate officer-involved critical incidents like police shootings, use-of-force incidents that result in death or life-threatening injuries, police officer suicides, and in-custody deaths.
At a Herndon Town Council meeting on Dec. 1, Police Chief Maggie DeBoard said the team would boost public confidence in the investigation process, rule out potential conflicts of interest, and create a process for objective investigations.
“It’s a way for us to make sure these are done independently without bias, which really has been one of the outcries of police reform across the country,” DeBoard said.
Currently, HPD works with the Fairfax County Police Department to address similar issues. Absent a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), DeBoard said the process is challenged by FCPD’s limited availability if multiple incidents require a prompt investigation.
DeBoard also noted that HPD can develop the expertise of its staff by taking part in investigations of other jurisdictions.
Alexandria recently pulled out of the proposed team because of delays in bringing the project forward to its City Council. But 11 other jurisdictions have committed to take part in the task force:
- Arlington County
- Falls Church
- Fairfax
- Leesburg
- Manassas
- Manassas Park
- Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority Police Department
- Prince William County
- Purcellville
- Vienna
Members of the Herndon Town Council agreed with the need for the program at the meeting.
According to a Dec. 1 staff report, taking part in CIRT will not result in additional expenses, other than overtime expenses that are already allocated in HPD’s current budget.
CIRT will not investigate car crashes that result in death, unless the car itself was used as deadly force. Completed case investigations will go before the Commonwealth’s Attorney, who will decide whether to prosecute any individuals.
A Herndon resident has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in the Town of Herndon that happened yesterday afternoon.
Jason Byrd, 20, was arrested yesterday. (Wednesday) after the Herndon Police Department “worked quickly” to identify Byrd as a suspect in the case, according to a police department spokesperson.
He was charged with second-degree murder and the use of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The arrest was made with the help of the Fairfax County Police Department.
The victim, Julian Rashad Martin, 30, of Reston, was found lying in the road on the 1000 block of Queens Court yesterday.
He later died from his injuries at Reston Hospital. Police responded to the area after receiving reports of shots fired in the area.
Photo via FCPD
Service Outages Planned for Silver Line — This weekend and in early December, service outages are planned between Spring Hill and Wiehle-Reston East Metro Stations. Free buses will offer transportation between the stations during outages. [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]
Herndon Cruiser Rear-ended — A Town of Herndon police cruiser was rear-ended by an alleged drunk driver. The police department is reminding residents to move over when emergency vehicles are on the side of the road. No injuries were reported. [Herndon Police Department]
Reston Company to Provide IT Services to USDA — “The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded Reston-based Fortune 500 defense contractor Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) a position on the department’s potential five-year, $620 million Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) multiple-award blanket purchase agreement (BPA), SAIC announced Wednesday.” [Virginia Business Monthly]
Frost Advisory In Effect — A frost advisory is in effect until 9 a.m. today (Friday). Frost can kill sensitive outdoor vegetation, if left uncovered. [National Weather Service]
Sterling Man Arrested in Connection with Rape — Saul Recinos Deunas, 43, was arrested in connection with the rape of a victim that he knew, according to the Herndon Police Department. The incident happened on Oct.3 at the 1200 block of Springtide Place. He was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he was held without bond. [HPD]
Recreation Workgroup to Meet Next Week — Reston Association’s Recreation Facilities Working Group will meet on Nov. 5 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. [RA]
Extra Early Voting Hours Added — The county has added two extra hours on early voting tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday. All sites will now open at 11 a.m., except for the Fairfax County Government Center, where voting still begins at 8 a.m. [Fairfax County Government]
Local Officer Honored for Being ‘True American Hero’ — Weblos, Den 1, Pack 913 from St. Joe’s honored Officer Murn for being a “true American hero.” [Herndon Police Department]
Reston Collects 303 Pounds of Old Meds — The Reston District Station and Reston Hospital Center collected 303 pounds of old medicines during the 19th annual National Drug Take Back Day this past weekend. [Fairfax County Police Department]
Photo by Elizabeth Copson
The Herndon Police Department is investigating a robbery that happened around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday at M&T Bank on the 1100 block of Herndon Parkway.
HPD did not confirm the business where the robbery occurred.
But police believe someone passed a note to tellers demanding money and left the business with an “undisclosed amount of cash.”
The suspect fled on foot toward the 1100 block of Herndon Parkway.
“There was no weapon displayed or implied,” an HPD spokesperson told Reston Now.
Anyone with information can call HPD at 703-435-6846.
Photo via HPD
Safety concerns are rising around a police reform bill blocking officers from pulling over drivers without headlights at night, part of an initiative to reform police searches when detecting marijuana in vehicles.
Senate Bill 5029, initially introduced by Senator L. Louise Lucas (D), reads that “no law-enforcement officer may lawfully stop a motor vehicle for operating without a light illuminating a license plate, with defective and unsafe equipment, without brake lights or a high mount stop light,” as well as other vehicle defects. The bill was passed by the House and Senate and is now waiting on Governor Ralph Northam to sign into action.Â
However, the Herndon Police Chief Maggie DeBoard has expressed concern over the passing of the bill because it undermines several different safety measures.Â
On Oct. 14, DeBoard crafted a letter and uploaded it to Facebook via the Herndon Police Department, addressing Northam on behalf of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police on the areas of the bill they oppose and would like to see changed.Â
“Our citizens expect us to protect them. This bill prevents that and will certainly lead to an increase in vehicle and pedestrian fatalities throughout the state,” said DeBoard in her letter. “We strongly encourage you to amend SB 5029 and HB 5058 to remove the amendments that negatively impact the safety of our citizens and visitors.”
According to the police department, Northam has until today to take action on the bill.Â
Photo via Herndon Police Department
Maggie DeBoard, the Town of Herndon’s police chief, has been named the president of a statewide police foundation.
DeBoard was named the president of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police & Foundation, a nonprofit professional membership association and educational foundation.
Dana Schrad, executive director of VACP, said that DeBoard is the first female president for the organization.
“Although she would be the first to downplay the significance of this, Chief DeBoard is a stellar example of a dedicated police professional and a true leader among police executives,” Schrad wrote in a statement.
VACP was founded in 1926 and has more than 600 members made up of active and retired state, federal, local, and private law enforcement and criminal justice agency executives, administrators, and managers.
Photo via Herndon Police Department
Reported crimes in Herndon were at a three year high in 2019, according to a new report from the Herndon Police Department.
In 2019, there were 833 reported crimes in Herndon, an uptick from the 791 crimes reported in 2018.
The crimes with the greatest one-year increase were auto theft, aggravated assault and destruction of property according to the report. In 2019, there were 25 reported auto thefts, more than in the previous two years combined.
Steve Pihonak, a captain with the Herndon Police Department, called auto thefts a “crime of opportunity,” saying there is a growing trend in the town with criminals taking advantage of people who leave their cars idling.
“Auto thefts are often what we call a ‘crime of opportunity,’ and these are not easy for officers to predict or police against,” Pihonak said in a statement. “For example, out of the 25 auto thefts in Herndon in 2019, 11 of them occurred when the cars were left running. Additionally, five more cases occurred when the car was left unlocked with the keys in the car. In one other case, the vehicle was left unlocked.”
To prevent auto thefts and other crimes, Pihonak said people should follow a “9 p.m. routine” where residents should remove valuables from their cars at night. Additionally, residents should close their garage door, lock their front door and leave a light on at night, Pihonak said.
Aggravated assaults increased from three reported cases in 2018 to 29 in 2019. The reported three cases in 2019 are an anomaly according to Lisa Herndon, a spokeswoman for Herndon Police said, who pointed to the fact that there were 21 reported aggravated assaults in the town in 2017.
She said police don’t know what accounted for the low number of reported aggregative assaults in Herndon in 2018.
Destruction of property crimes increased from 77 reported incidents in 2018 to 188 in 2019, which is closer to the 2017 total of 132.
As reported crimes are at a three-year high, arrests are at a three-year low, with just 575 arrests in 2019, compared to 688 in 2018 and 837 in 2017.
In contrast, there were fewer reported incidents of assaults 165 reported cases in 2019 compared to 190 in 2018, drug and narcotic crimes with 93 incidents in 2019 compared to 118 in 2018.
But whether it’s an uptick or drop in reported crimes, it is not a reflection of a trend, Herndon said.
“There’s naturally going to be an up and down,” Herndon said of reported crimes in the town. “To speak specifically to a one year change isn’t really getting the whole picture.”
Photo via HPD
Two Herndon men have been charged in connection with the assault of two victims, according to the Herndon Police Department.
Marian Jose Acuna Palma, 27, and Hesler Alexis Merida Rivas, 22, were charged with aggravated assault, robbery, and gang participation in connection with the assault of two victims, HPD said.
The incident occurred on Sept. 5 on the 1100 block of Elden Street.
Rivas was also charged with possession of false documents and assault.
Both victims were taken to Reston Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. They are being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond.
Herndon Police Department Seeks to Identify Persons of Interest — HPD is seeking the public’s help to identify two men who are “persons of interest in an HPD investigation.” Anyone with information should call 703-435-6846. [Herndon Police Department]
An Update on Reston Association — This week’s Reston Today video takes a look at RA’s efforts to maintain safety and operations due to COVID-19. [Reston Association]
Reston Hospital Center Receives Healthgrades Awards — “Reston Hospital Center has received the Healthgrades 2020 Labor and Delivery Excellence Award and the 2020 Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award for the fourth consecutive year.” [Inside NOVA]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
The Herndon Police Department is investigating a robbery that happened on the 500 block of Early Fall Court earlier this month.
Four suspects approached the victim at around 4:35 p.m. on August 4 and attempted to rob the individual, police said.
The suspects fled when the victim got the attention of residents outside of their home, according to the Herndon Police Department. The incident is under investigation.
HPD is also investigating an Aug. 9 stabbing on the 200 block of Elden Street.
John Patrick Murphy, 45, of Herndon, was arrested for attempting to stab someone he knew, according to HPD. He is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center without bond.
Information about both issues was released late yesterday (Wednesday) in HPD’s weekly crime report.
Photo via Herndon Police Department
A Halt on Evictions in Virginia — Gov. Ralph Northam has granted a temporary statewide eviction moratorium through Sept. 7. Northam requested this moratorium in a letter to Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Donald Lemons on July 24. [Commonwealth of Virginia]
Goodbye to K-9 Jake — The K9 for the Herndon Police Department crossed the rainbow bridge last week. He served the residents of Herndon from 2010 until his retirement in 2016. [Herndon Police Department]
New Portal for Community Partners — “A new partner portal has been launched for local community leaders and organizations with shareable information about COVID-19 safety curated according to health messages. Users can grab-and-go with text and video content, visuals, flyers and other materials.”[Fairfax County Government]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
Herndon Police Issues Warning about Unlocked Cars — Local police investigated reports of at least 10 vehicles that someone entered other than their owner. All vehicles were left unlocked. [Herndon Police Department]
Teachers’ Union Seeks Roles for All — The Fairfax County Federation of Teachers is asking Fairfax County Public Schools has a role for all staff including instructional assistants and bus drivers. [Fairfax County Federation of Teachers]
Arrest Made in Aggravated Assault Case — “Marian Jose Acuna Palma, 27, of Herndon, VA was arrested and charged with aggravated assault for the stabbing of a victim that is known to her. The victim went to Fair Oaks Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,” according to police. The incident happened on the 1000 block of Elden Street on July 21. [Herndon Police Department]
Atlanta Firm Acquires Reston Company — “Atlanta-based investment company Battle Investment Group has acquired Reston-based telecommunications company Oceus Networks, the company announced Tuesday.” [Virginia Business]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Guidance for County Students on College — Northern Virginia Community College is inviting parents of FCPS students and recent graduates for an informational session on navigating college options for high school graduates. The virtual meeting takes place via Zoom today at 6:30 p.m. [Fairfax County Public Schools]
County NAACP Chair Considers Run for Lt. Governor Seat —Â “Sean Perryman, president of the Fairfax County NAACP, is considering a bid for the Lt. Governor of Virginia in 2021. He announced Monday in a release the formation of an ‘exploratory committee.'” [Reston Patch]
Herndon Police Department Seeks Public Comment for Re-accreditation Process — The Herndon Police Department is being reassessed for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies’ accreditation award. Public comment is sought vi email and during phone-in sessions. [Herndon Police Department]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
