Prince George's County Police address perception of public safety as crime rates decline

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — Prince George's County Police Chief Malik Aziz says addressing the community's perception of crime is just as important as bringing criminals to justice. During a sit-down interview with WUSA9, Aziz said total crime in the county is down compared to last year.

Although the county is seeing less of some violent crimes like non-fatal shootings and carjackings, overall violent crime has seen an uptick so far in 2023 because of two categories.

"That is assault no weapons, that means a zero-weapons assault. That means a fight took place, a pushing took place, spitting, or some threat they are up. Domestic violence assault non-weapon related are up," Aziz said. 

So far this year, 13 homicides in the county have been due to domestic violence according to Aziz.

Among the domestic-related killings is the case of 11-year-old Mailyn Turkes. Investigators say her stepfather Curtis Lynch, 38, killed the girl before taking his own life inside a home in Stansbury Lane in Landover.

Aziz says rates and numbers do not necessarily reflect resident's perceptions of public safety in the county. 

For now, he says his department will continue using data to address the needs of areas with high crime rates. Aziz says sometimes it requires assigning additional officers to "hot spots" but without taking resources from other areas. 

"Everything we do now is about numbers with common sense," he added. 

Nearly a week after a shooting during an Independence Day celebration in Temple Hills killed a boy no arrests have been made. Investigators say Ahsan Payton, 6, died two days after being shot during an Independence Day celebration on Akron Street. 

"You know you killed a kid, We say be men, the two of them, and turn yourselves in," Aziz said to the two people investigators believe opened fire during the neighborhood event. 

The Fourth of July celebration in Temple Hills is just one of a series of events where multiple people have been shot in Prince George's County.

In April five teens were shot during a senior skip day at Schrom Hill Park. The Greenbelt Police Department who led the investigations said 500 to 600 people participated in the unsanctioned event. 

Aziz is urging residents to reach out to his department ahead of planned events, especially those that attract people from outside their neighborhoods.  

"If you call us and say can you drive around here during your downtime, some of your patrol time, guess we are going to be there. We are going to roll through and maybe that small window of visibility will help save a life," he said. 

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