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Articles
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| First District receives leadership overhaul |
VOICE writes, "BY BEN WEINSTEIN
Police Chief Cathy Lanier swore in 63 new ranking officers last week, including a new First District commander and inspector.
Lanier promoted former First District Cmdr. Diane Groomes to assistant chief. Cmdr. David Kamperin took her place, and Inspector George Kucik replaced former First District Inspector Lamar Greene.
“I really enjoyed myself,” Groomes said of her two years heading the First District. “I hope that I was able to bridge the gap between the community and the police.”
Groomes said she’s most proud of the overall reduction in crime in the First District, adding that increasing police presence in the neighborhoods was a major component of her strategy."
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She said as part of the First District’s community policing initiatives, officers engaged in more citizen outreach projects. “It was a big thing we heard about at meetings,” she said of police presence and citizen outreach.
The rise in robberies and crimes committed by youth were among the more frustrating issues during her tenure, Groomes said.
At last week’s swearing-in ceremony, Lanier singled out Groomes’ accomplishments, saying that during her 17 years on the force, Groomes demonstrated “true leadership” and a tireless work ethic.
As for her replacement, Groomes said of Kamperin, “I think he’s going to do an outstanding job.”
This promotion marks Kamperin’s return to the First District. “I’m excited about coming back. ... If I had the choice, this is where I’d pick.”
He said he plans to re-familiarize himself with the community during his first few weeks on the job. Part of his plan for crime prevention is to empower police-service area lieutenants to help custom tailor the First District force’s response to crime, neighborhood by neighborhood.
Before this most recent post, Kamperin spent 22 years with the department in four of the city’s seven police districts and worked within several divisions, including most recently the Special Tactics Branch of the Homeland Security and the Special Operations Division, according to a department biography.
The department also notes that Kamperin graduated from the University of Maryland, earned a certificate in public management from George Washington University and graduated from Penn State University’s Police Executive Development Program.
First District Inspector George Kucik has been with the department for 19 years. He served as a detective sergeant in the Fifth District Detective Unit, then he was promoted to lieutenant and moved to the Fourth District.
Kucik moved up to captain last year and went to the Third District. Most recently, he worked in the Narcotic and Special Investigation Division.
Kucik’s department biography notes that he was “instrumental in drafting the Department’s first standard operating procedures (SOP) for homicide investigations, which is currently used by members of the department today.”
Kucik graduated from the FBI’s National Academy and Xavier University, where he earned a degree in criminal justice.
Kucik did not respond to calls for comment in time for publication.
The promotions mark the start of Lanier’s recent departmental overhaul. She decreased the top staff as part of an effort to streamline the department.
Groomes, for instance, is in charge of all the city’s patrol officers, whereas assistant chiefs were formerly charged with sections of the city. She will be able to move officers more quickly than was possible under the previous system.
Also at the swearing-in ceremony, Lanier announced the resignation of Sgt. Joe Gentile, a 40-year veteran of the force. Lanier presented Gentile, the department’s spokesman, with the distinguished-service award.
“You are a treasure to the Metropolitan Police Department, and we love you and we’re not accepting the [resignation] papers,” Lanier said.
“I am a spokesperson and I’m at a loss for words,” Gentile said. “I’ve been very blessed. I am part of the finest department in the world.”
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Posted on Oct 11, 2007 19:54pm.
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