News Releases

Media Advisory: Damascus Gardens Celebrates Success of Drug Market Initiative

For Immediate Release: Friday, April 12, 2013

• What:  Celebration and recognition of success of Drug Market Initiative in the Damascus Gardens community

• When:  Saturday, April 13, 10:00 a.m.

• Where:  Damascus Gardens apartment complex, 9829 Bethesda Church Road, Damascus

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In 2010, the Montgomery County Police Department applied to participate in the Drug Market Initiative (DMI), a program that is coordinated by Michigan State University, School of Criminal Justice and is sponsored by the Department of Justice,  Bureau of Justice Assistance.  The DMI is a strategic and focused intervention intended to shut down or eliminate open air drug markets and thereby reduce crime and violence in a target neighborhood.  In 2011, the MCPD was selected to participate in the program and chose the Damascus Gardens apartment complex as the community in which to implement the DMI.  The Damascus Gardens complex had a long history of being an open air drug market and a community of violence.

The DMI began in March 2011 with the collaborative effort of MCPD, the States’ Attorney’s Office, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Up-County Regional Services Center.  Throughout an eight-month investigation, higher and lower level drug dealers were identified; higher level offenders were charged with criminal violations while lower level offenders were provided with opportunities for interventions.  Once the investigation was complete, the community was monitored throughout the following year (2012) to ensure that the improved conditions and improved quality of life were maintained in the apartment complex.

Due to the success of the DMI in Damascus Gardens, Montgomery County earned a National Association of Counties Achievement Award in 2012.

Tomorrow, a celebration will be held to recognize the community partnerships that have been established through the DMI initiative as well as the elimination of an open air drug market and reduction in calls for police services within the Damascus Gardens community.

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*** Members of the media are encouraged to attend this event. ***

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Release ID: 13-114
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: press-releases