Borderstan People: Lt. Jeffrey Carroll, MPD’s PSA 307

From Cody Telep. Follow him on Twitter @codywt, email him at cody[AT]borderstan.com.

Welcome to another of our occasional profiles of Borderstan People — interesting and sometimes even well-known people who happen to work or live in the Dupont-Logan-U Street area. Today’s profile Q&A is with Jeffery Carroll, Police Service Area (PSA) 307 Lieutenant for the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). PSA 307 covers the area around Logan Circle. (See Closer Look at PSA 307’s New Boundaries, Personnel.)

This is the fourth in our series of profiles of MPD personnel who work in Borderstan. Our first police profile was of Diane Groomes, assistant chief in charge of the Patrol Services and School Security Bureau. Our second profile was of Third District Commander Jacob Kishter and our third profile was of Second District Commander Michael Reese.

Borderstan: First, a little bit about your personal background. Where did you grow up? When did you decide you wanted to be a police officer?

Carroll: I grew up in Calvert County, in Southern Maryland. I have wanted to be a police officer since I was a child. Growing up, I always admired police officers and how they worked with the community to address problems.

Borderstan: When did you join the MPD? Were you an officer at another law enforcement agency?

Carroll: I joined MPD in June of 2002. While I was in college, I spent several summers working for the Ocean City Maryland Police Department, as a seasonal police cadet.

Borderstan: What positions have you held in the MPD? How long have you served in the Borderstan area?

Carroll: After completing initial training at the Metropolitan Police Academy, I was assigned to the Third District, in what was formerly PSA 310. This is the Logan Circle area. I worked in PSA 310, which became PSA 307, until I was promoted to sergeant in 2007. Then I was transferred to the First District and worked in PSA 107, which is the area near RFK [Robert F. Kennedy Stadium]. After six months I was transferred to the Patrol Services and School Security Bureau, where I worked for almost two years. In 2010, I was promoted to lieutenant and transferred back to the Third District, where I was assigned to PSA 308. In January of this year, I was reassigned to PSA 307, where I currently serve as the PSA manager.

Borderstan: What’s the most rewarding part of your job… your years as an officer in DC?

Carroll: The most rewarding part of my job is working with the citizens to resolve an issue, especially if it is an issue that has been ongoing for some time. I have developed many friendships over the years while working with residents addressing crime in the neighborhood. There is a real sense of accomplishment when you know you were able to play a role in reducing crime and enhancing the lives of others.

Borderstan: What’s the most challenging part of your job?

Carroll: The most challenging part of my job is trying to address all of the different concerns that members of the community have, along with the current crime trends, with the resources that are available. It is a difficult balancing act, but I believe we do a pretty good job.
Borderstan: What does a “typical” day entail?

Carroll: A typical day begins with reviewing my emails before coming to work. This way I can respond to any issues that require an immediate response, even before I get to work, and plan my day out. Once I get to work I review the crime reports to see what happened in the PSA while I was away from work and any emerging crime trends.

Many days I also serve as the Watch Commander for the Third District. As such, I am responsible for the entire Third District. I attend roll calls with the officers, respond to calls for service, and conduct many additional administrative duties throughout my shift. I also attend various community meetings and meetings with other organizations on a routine basis.

Borderstan: What recommendations or tips do you have for citizens to help them stay safe? What can citizens do to become more involved in MPD’s efforts?

Carroll: Being aware of your surroundings is one of the most important safety tips I can pass along. With the development of smart phones, electronic readers, and the other electronic devices that have come along over the past few years, most people walk around (and drive around) distracted. They really aren’t paying attention to what is going on around them; they are focused on these devices.

Criminals take advantage of these distractions and use them to their advantage. If you are the victim of a crime and you weren’t aware of what was going on before the crime occurred, it is very difficult to provide a description of the criminal or what was going on before the crime occurred. These details are very important in helping us locate and arrest the offender.

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