Like many police leaders in the county, Maj. Kevin Davis began his tenure as commander of District 1 in November 2005 with a promise to clean up the streets of College Park and its surrounding areas, but few knew at the time that he meant it literally.

Last Friday, Davis received the “Chief Administrative Officer’s Most Visionary Award” for an anti-graffiti program he started late September in response to mounting “frustration” over the diminishing quality of life throughout the district.

“[It’s] the day-to-day issues that bother them: The abandoned cars, the graffiti on the sidewalks, the code violations,” Davis said of district residents. “That’s really what interests people and what they want to work on.”

Through the program, residents of District 1, which includes College Park, can report acts of vandalism in Spanish or English via telephone or e-mail. Once the reports have accumulated, a group of volunteer police officers and residents respond to resolve them.

Given the area’s problem with gang activity, the graffiti issue hits home in District 1 more so than other places around the county. Davis said 46 sites have been cleaned up so far, including at least four in College Park. The group goes out an average of once a month, hitting as many as 10 locations during its typical 12-hour day.

Davis said the program has helped tackle residents’ quality of life concerns. On top of that, the initiative has been an “ice-breaker” for residents, he said, creating for the community a more comfortable line of communication with police.

“One of the big things that police agencies have always told people is ‘We need your help,'” Davis said. “But if you only go to people when you need help, then where were you when things were good? And I want to be there when things are good.”

“We’ve received tips on the graffiti hotline for other crimes, which is always good to see,” Davis added. “We’ll take information any way we can get it.”

The program has grown significantly in its short existence, Davis said, attracting attention and support from area residents and businesses. What began as three or four volunteer officers transporting $4,000 worth of county-funded power washers and cleaning equipment in squad cars has grown into a group of about 15 who regularly work to erase graffiti across the district.

The Prince George’s County Fire Department has also lent the volunteers 150 feet of fire hose and granted them access to fire hydrants. Additionally, a local branch of U-Haul donated a trailer to help tote around the equipment.

As the program gains support, officers have become more efficient and knowledgable with each trip, Davis said.

“The devil is in the details,” Davis said with a slight laugh. “We are getting better at it. You’ve got to remember we are a bunch of police officers, so this is all new to us.”

Contact reporter Steven Overly at overlydbk@gmail.com.