Recieved this from the PD today.  It’s related to the shootings in GTS in Feb.  Congratulations to all these officers and a hearty thanks for their actions.

Police Department

Administrative Services Division

Memorandum

 TO:                       The Force

FROM:                Captain Quentin F. Lawler

DATE:                 June 10, 2011

SUBJECT:         Chief D.W. Keen, Sgt. T.J. Rodriquez Off. C.W. Shields, and Off. D.D. Black to be awarded Police Department Honorable Service Medal

 These officer’s actions during a “Shooting” call, as outlined in a memorandum put forth by Captain A.O. Dennis, were exemplary and believed to have ultimately saved the life of a citizen.  These officers responded on scene with information indicating the possibility of a mass shooting event where there were victims either shot or stabbed and limited knowledge on the suspect’s whereabouts.   Confronted with the task of aiding the victims and the threat of possibly encountering an active shooter, the officers quickly and diligently planned their course of action and acted courageously and efficiently in its execution.   

Please join me in congratulating and commending these officers for a job well done.  A formal recognition and awards ceremony will be announced when scheduled. 

 

As the city has “grown up” we’ve had to augment our zoning and building enforcement efforts over the years.  About the time I was elected to my first term the big issue was overcrowding.  One of the ways localities combat these kinds of problems is building and zoning code enforcement.  At that time, we had 1 zoning inspector (Herndon had 6) and I brought forward a request to add several more in order to help police the evolving situation in our City.

The historical approach to zoning enforcement in Manassas is best termed “the quest for compliance”.  The leadership in Manassas long ago made the decision that what they really wanted was compliance.  They did not care at the time whether someone paid a fine – they just wanted the grass cut or the car off the lawn.  That has worked well enough over the years but the situation has evolved: the “quest for compliance” methodology works well enough when people are inclined to comply.  when they are not, it leads to endless correspondance.  The next step would be to drag the offender into court and I just don’t know how much sense that makes. 

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