FREDERICK, MD - Frederick City Police are beefing up patrols along the Carroll Creek after getting complaints from some business owners.
"We've had the officers go into the businesses, make sure they know we're out there, and try to get their take on what they're seeing," says Cpt. Thomas Ledwell, acting police chief for the Frederick City Police Department. "We've had some plain-clothes operations and some observation of groups that have been repeated problems."
Friends of Carroll Creek Urban Park and the business owners recently had a meeting with police. They expressed concerns over issues ranging from public intoxication and skateboarding, to loitering and vandalism.
"You've had situations where you'd had vandalism. You've also had instances of crime in the creek, and police are picking up their presence," says Tom Lynch, founder of Friends of Carroll Creek Urban Park.
Lynch says he believes the situation is getting better. Some business owners even suggested making an ordinance against loitering and removing some park benches.
"We've had a unit that's dedicated to problem solving in that area, high visibility, enforcement of some of the city ordinances, as well as regular criminal laws," says Ledwell.
Frederick City Police started the 'Downtown Squad' this summer; a group of roving officers on segways and bicycles.
