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Jumping to Conclusions

Minerva writes:

I was flipping through some mail and saw this article in the Vienna/Oakton Connection:

Police Warn Against 'Jumping to Conclusions' Citizens' concerns about "changes in neighborhood" are being addressed. Donna Manz November 20, 2007

Vienna police and Detective James K. Sheeran are pro-active when they see groups of young men milling around. They get out of their patrol cars and talk to the teens and men, trying to develop a relationship. At the Cedar Lane Shopping Center, suspected by the Vienna Citizens Group of possible gang activity, the men are usually just socializing, said Sheeran. An e-mailed statement released by an unidentified representative of the Vienna Citizens Group reads: "... We believe there are MS-13 gang members at the Cedar Lane Shopping Center based on what the Vienna Police have told us and crimes reported in the news. ... Based on their behavior, we suspect that the men congregating at the shopping center to seek day work may be illegal aliens. Fairfax County has an extremely low unemployment rate; citizens who can legally work here usually don't congregate in shopping center or other parking lots to seek day work." What Robert Carlisle, Vienna Chief of Police, and Sheeran are both adamant about is that nobody should jump to a conclusion that a group of young men necessarily constitutes a gang.

SHEERAN SAYS that while there may be gang members within a group of day laborers waiting for pick-up, the group is not a gang. They are men looking for work. "You have to look at the context of everything," said Sheeran. "Over at Cedar Lane and Park, you might see a group of young men, all wearing the same color shirt, maybe bandanas. And someone may think, 'a gang.' You look more closely and you realize it's a soccer team." Carlisle does not believe there is increased crime or gang activity at Cedar Lane, and the police department responds to all complaints there. Southern Management, which manages Vienna Park Apartments, has a proven record of cooperating with police on noise and overcrowding violations. Overcrowding, said Sheeran, is a zoning issue, and independent of the gang issue. "We understand that the Vienna Woods area is concerned about changes in their neighborhood," said Sheeran. "We recognize those concerns and respond to them. You've got 300 housing units within 200 feet of a shopping center. We anticipate the kind of problems that result from environments like that."

A SUSPECTED gang member of MS-13 was arrested in early October on charges of alleged involvement in a robbery and malicious wounding at the Cedar Lane Shopping Center in June. Sheeran explains that a gang-related offense is committed by a person in a gang for his own benefit. A gang-motivated crime is committed for the benefit of the whole gang. That a gang member should commit a crime for his personal satisfaction should not come as a surprise. As Sheeran points out, "People in gangs don't necessarily play well with others." Carlisle says there have been two robberies at the Cedar Lane shopping center in two years, and compares that to the higher number of robberies on Maple Avenue. "Nobody from that group [Vienna Citizens Group] has come before the Town Council to complain of suspected gang activity at that shopping center," said Mayor M. Jane Seeman, "and I invite concerned citizens to come in to talk to me." "People who own the shops there claim there is no trouble, no problems. We work with the owners of the shopping center, the apartments, and we are upholding the laws. "I want to keep Vienna a safe place to live. The police are doing everything they can to make sure no laws are being broken, and I have confidence in them. I believe we're pretty much on top of this."

Any thoughts?

Comments

A SOCCER TEAM!!! THE ARROGANCE!!! How stupid does Dect. Sheeran, Chief Carlise and Mayor Seeman think the citizens of Vienna Woods are?

Go to www.viennacitizens.com and argue with the FACTS.

The homeowners in Vienna Woods are long time tenured residents, who have been paying their town taxes for many, many years and have been left abandoned by the town government. Their (town officials) response is an attempt to placate their neighbors into accepting their fate of living in fear in a declining neighborhood. Trust me Vienna Woods residents, Sheeran, Carlisle and Seeman DO NOT live in your neighborhood and they OBVIOUSLY DON’T GIVE A DAMM ABOUT YOU OR YOUR FAMILIES.

Well, well, I go away for a few days, and look what happens. Everyone in my neighborhood becomes an idiot who can't tell the difference between a gang and a soccer team.

Either the Police Chief, Mayor Seeman, and the rest of the Town Council have amnesia -- or they're trying to cover it all up. You decide:

The Police Chief previously admitted that we had a gang problem in Vienna, now he's backpeddaling.

Officer Sheeran is a gang officer. If we don't have gangs here, then Vienna is illegally taking money to fund a position that isn't needed.

For your information, there is more gang activity than is being reported to the public. It's the new policy of the local press and police to not label crime or arrests as gang related because "it scares folks."

We're not in Kansas anymore. While Vienna Citizens Group is pulling back the curtain to reveal the truth, Mayor Seeman and Chief Carlisle are busy telling us to "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."

Shame on them.

Officer Sheeran is a gang officer. If we don't have gangs here, then Vienna is illegally taking money to fund a position that isn't needed.

Officer Sheeran used to be a patrol cop, but now works with Fairfax County, not the town of Vienna.

Source: Asked a few officers whatever happened to him, that was what they said.

Well, I have Officer Sheeran's card in my wallet, and it says Vienna Police. He's our gang officer, paid by both the Town and County.

On a related note, it's really sad to see someone so young and new to the police force used for propaganda. Minerva, I hope you're at least getting some overtime pay for this.

Hmmm, I had not thought about that: Minerva's dating a Vienna cop?! Plausible. Would explain the detailed knowledge of the police. I grew up here and I don't ever remember knowing much about our police - especially when I was 19. I was in my own world - friends, college, blah, blah, blah.

Why is it that Marie Kisner placed TWO articles in one week with Donna Manz at the Connection. Didn't the Mayor and Police Chief's denials in the first Times article work?

So now there are THREE articles with the Town denying there are problems with crime, day laborers, and zoning in South Vienna.

"Deny, Deny, Deny!"

I have a boyfriend in the military, and he is MY OWN AGE.

Seriously, I dont have "all the knowledge" about what goes on in this town, which is why I like reading this website.

If you go back to one of my first posts, you will see that I had NO IDEA about any of the town council's crap going on.

And I dont work for the police, I said already, I walk dogs. I work for a company that walks dogs. Im NOT enrolled in college at the moment because I dont know what Id like to pursue in life yet.

There really is no need to say that just because Im young and actually take time to talk to the Vienna cops that I work for them, or that Im dating them (They are all WAY older than I, and I am happily taken thanks)

Honestly, its really annoying that people on here keep claiming crap about me thats not true! Would you like proof of my identity? I have myspace, facebook, a drivers license, and a happy employer...

Vienna Mommy, Im glad that you had enough money to go to college and be in your own world and blah blah blah. I, on the other hand, am not so fortunate at this moment! From your other posts, I really thought you had more sense than to say something nasty like you did about me.

Nice post/comment Minerva. Some of the perceived negativity is probably related to "others" who have stopped by here to simply defend the Maud machine. I remember you saying you were new to all the "crap" and I took you at your word and still do. Everyone is needed to turn the ship around, and sometimes it takes time for people to feel each other out. Not saying any behavior is appropriate or not, but that is my guess as to what is going on. The vast majority of people on here are level headed and see big problems in Vienna. I imagine some are frustrated at continual Town Council incompetence and internal debates and squabbles aimed at learning are quite alright as everyone sees the real goal: no more Maud!

Dear Minerva,
See how quickly you have moved from the poster child of the younger generation to "dating a police officer" or "pretending to be a young woman" - just because you disagree with some of the posters on core issues... Take what is posted here with a grain of salt, and keep asking question about the half truths and unfounded allegations you see. But develop a thick skin cus the insults will come flying!!!

I hope every one of the folks who are part of the Vienna Citizens Group -- all 100+ of you -- will remember what Mayor Seeman and Chief Carlisle have said about you when you see them at the Church St. Holiday Stroll tomorrow night (Monday).

Remember that they think you are too stupid to know the difference between a soccer team and a gang. And that you are wrong -- there is no overcrowding or other zoning issues at the Vienna Park Apartments. And that you just don't understand -- there is no problem with groups of illegal aliens seeking day work at the shopping center.

Finally, remember that you are electing to office and paying your hard-earned money to Mayor Seeman and Chief Carlisle to look out for the common good of your community, and that they are treating you like cr@p.

And here s an example of the Maud machine assuming someone is dumber than a box of rocks:

Dear Minerva, See how quickly you have moved from the poster child of the younger generation to "dating a police officer" or "pretending to be a young woman" - just because you disagree with some of the posters on core issues... Take what is posted here with a grain of salt, and keep asking question about the half truths and unfounded allegations you see. But develop a thick skin cus the insults will come flying!!!

Go slink back under your rock you twit.

HV, THANK YOU!!!

I can understand people "feeling me out" since I am new here, but it seems like it became somewhat of a conspiracy theory to point fingers at me and claim that I work for the town, date the cops (no thanks), etc. Kind of annoying.

I had been thinking about posting the reasons on why I am so mature for my age, why I take time to visit with the cops, and all the details as to why I am the way I am, but that would become a autobiography, and this website is about making Vienna a better place and getting rid of the old bats who run it.

I forget how exactly I came upon this website, but I was so enticed when I started reading that I come back for more every day LOL. Of course, I try to look at things objectively, whether it be here or in life as it comes to me.

I had no idea who the people running the town were, I just knew that people in Vienna would always talk about things that needed to get done, but things never did get done lol. So to find out who is behind this is excellent, and I will participate in any reasonable way to push these crazy old women out of their seats (in the Town Council).

Thanks for the support, HV. It is really appreciated :)

When those whom we trust to care for our safety lie, it can threaten lives. Courtesy of the Vienna Citizens Group:

Multiple Attacks at Cedar Park Shopping Center Thanksgiving Week:
>>> A day after Town denies gang problem in press, a Vienna resident was attacked and stabbed in robbery attempt at 9:45pm Wednesday night; no one caught


>>> Saturday night drive-by robberies between groups of men has Vienna's Gang Officer looking for help with information about suspects

These crimes happened because there are gangs living in the Vienna Park Apartments, and they feel comfortable using visitors to the Cedar Park Shopping Center as their personal piggy bank.


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