The crowd was small at Wednesday night's community forum in Aberdeen, but police and city leaders still made crucial connections with residents of the east side as people deal with the aftermath of double murder last week.
About 20 people, including City Council members, the mayor and representatives of the Aberdeen Police Department, gathered in the gymnasium at the Aberdeen Boys and Girls Club on East Bel Air Avenue. The police department hosted the forum.
"We want you guys to be able to help us solve crime, but most importantly we want you guys to help us prevent crime to begin with," Police Chief Henry Trabert said.
He said he decided to host the meeting after reading concerns expressed on social media about crime in the neighborhood.
The group also included a few residents of the neighborhood where a man and a woman were shot to death early in the morning of June 13, as well as representatives of the local religious and business communities, civic organizations and the schools.
Trabert assured the audience that "all the men involved [in the murders] have been arrested; there's no other threat."
Terrell Darnell Walton and Ronald Brian Comer Jr., both of Aberdeen, are charged with the murders of Taneisha C. Smothers and Jumal R. Dudley. Both are being held in the Harford County Detention Center without bail – police have said Walton shot both victims.
Trabert said he expected more people to attend the forum, but he acknowledged people's fears about retaliation for talking with police, and that "the bad guys" have sat in the back of the room at prior meetings or watched who attends.
He and other police officials encouraged people to continue to communicate with police regarding crime or other quality-of-life issues, such as the state of their roads, and to be "our eyes and ears."
Residents reported seeing open-air drug dealing and loitering and homes and yards in disrepair.
"What's scary is the [drivers] speeding, as well," said resident Crista Trongone, who is concerned for the safety of her children.
Det. Sgt. Will Reiber, the assistant commander of the department's Criminal Investigations Division, said people can provide information by calling the APD at 410-272-2121, or send tips via the department's Facebook page – tipsters can be anonymous.
"We have solved so many cases because of people who have been engaged in the community in that capacity," Reiber said.
Steve Johnson, who owns property on the east side and also serves as chairman of the city's Economic Development Commission, noted many street lights in the neighborhood are out, and he expressed concerns about exterior lights being out at the nearby Amtrak and MARC train station.
"That creates an area that's less conducive to crime, when you light it up," Johnson said.
Zilpha Smith, president of the Harford County branch of the NAACP, called out "deadbeat" property owners, accusing them of renting houses and apartments to people who cause problems in the community.
"All they want is the money," she said.
Trabert and Mayor Patrick McGrady stressed the city has been working with many landlords to deal with public safety issues.
"We have a lot of tools in the toolbox to work with the property owners that want to work with us," McGrady said.
Trabert and Reiber also pledged to increase the police presence in the area where residents said drug dealing is happening and to investigate further.
"We have plans that have been put in place that are tried, true and tested," Reiber said of prior criminal investigations.
The chief pledged east side residents will "see more police in the area, you're going to see more police on bikes."
Trabert, responding to a question about talking to children in the neighborhood about dealing with violence, encouraged parents to step up and talk with their children.
He said people "can come to us for advice," but he stressed "the family has to take some responsibility of talking to their kids about something like this."
The police department holds many community outreach events each year where officers can interact with children.
Aberdeen's third annual Badges for Baseball, in which law enforcement officers coach boys and girls, ages 10 to 12, in baseball, begins July 5, Reiber said.
Agencies such as the APD and the Harford County Sheriff's Office work with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Harford County and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation on Badges for Baseball.
Reiber said the program gives "a little humanity to those that wear the badge."
The meeting lasted slightly longer than one hour. Trabert said he hopes to hold another forum before the end of the summer.
McGrady said he plans to knock on residents' doors, if necessary, to get people to attend. Trabert, who encouraged residents to tell their neighbors about Wednesday night's forum, said food will be provided at the next meeting.
"I'll do whatever I have to do to get everybody together," the chief said.