Howard County police, community groups enhance safety plans amid recent violence
Howard County police are ramping up patrols to bolster crime prevention following a recent spate of violence, especially near The Mall in Columbia.
Community organizations are also helping the effort.
Last week, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said his team is having an ongoing conversation with community partners about how to better support young people in the county.
Increased police presence
More Howard County police vehicles were seen around The Mall in Columbia on Monday to enhance the safety and security plan announced by Police Chief Gregory Der.
On Feb. 22, a double shooting near the bus stop outside of the Lidl near the mall killed 16-year-old Michael Robertson and 15-year-old Blake McCray.
Emmetson Zeah, the shooting suspect, is being held in the Howard County Detention Center without bail.
Community support
Ball recently touted the county's commitment to funding youth programs and organizations through the Youth Engagement Programming, or YEP, grants.
First started in 2023, the county has put in more than $1.5 million in YEP grants, according to Ball -- helping more than 10,000 young people.
"Programs focused on mentorship, recreation, life skills, sports, employment, and more: all aimed at ensuring our young people are supported and valued," Ball said. "[Letting them] know they are not here alone."
In the latest round of YEP grant funding, 33 organizations and programs got a piece of it.
STAND, which stands for Stepping Towards A New Destiny, is one of those organizations, which is run out of Wilde Lake Middle School and is led by Darryl Jeffries.
"We try to take an all-around approach," Jeffries said.
Jeffries, who is the Howard County Program Director for STAND, said the organization is a mentorship program that does everything, from helping with homework to teaching leadership skills.
The goal is to give students the skills to be on the path away from crime.
"We try to guide them and teach them about themselves. Get them a lot of character building and leadership -- skills and techniques they can use to develop themselves into men," Jeffries said.
Jeffries has seen first-hand how these programs can change someone's trajectory.
"When we give them this safe space, we're able to catch them before they erupt," he said. "Before they explode into something negative. We're able to catch it early, so that way they can take the time to work through their feelings."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Democrats itching for fight over immigration
Democrats are diving forcefully into the immigration fight, dismissing concerns about political backlash to confront President Trump directly on a polarizing issue that ranks among the president's strongest suits in the eyes of voters. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is leading the charge. Not only has he waged an animated defense of Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), who is facing federal charges following a recent scuffle with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents outside a migrant detention center in New Jersey, but he's also demanding that the masked ICE officers involved in the fracas — and Trump's broader mass deportation campaign — be publicly identified. 'Every single ICE agent who is engaged in this aggressive overreach and are trying to hide their identities from the American people will be unsuccessful in doing that,' Jeffries told reporters in the Capitol. 'This is America,' he added. 'This is not the Soviet Union. We're not behind the Iron Curtain. This is not the 1930s. And every single one of them, no matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes, will of course be identified.' The call drew immediate howls from officials with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other Republicans, who have long-accused Democrats of siding with people in the country illegally over the rule of law — a major theme of Trump's successful campaign last year. Many of the GOP critics are accusing Democrats of putting the safety of federal law enforcement officers in jeopardy. 'We take threats to law enforcement very seriously. As the state leading the nation in immigration enforcement, FL will not sit idly by and allow agents from DHS/ICE and/or state and local agencies to be targeted,' Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) posted on X, linking to Jeffries's comments. DeSantis said he's instructed Florida law enforcers to be on the lookout for any 'doxxing' campaigns aimed at law enforcers, and to respond quickly. 'Sabotaging the work of those in the immigration enforcement arena will not stand!' he wrote. Capitol Hill Republicans are piling on. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) this week introduced legislation designed to shield federal law enforcers from doxxing. Violators could face five years in prison. The pushback has done little to dissuade Jeffries, who on Thursday doubled down on his identification push, wondering why those involved in Trump's mass deportation campaign should enjoy privileges of anonymity that others in law enforcement don't. 'It seems to me that the officials at the Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, should be held to the same standards as every other part of law enforcement in terms of transparency,' he said. The strategy has its risks. Trump has built his political brand around an 'America First' message that helped propel him into the White House in 2016 and again in 2024. His 'big, beautiful bill' working its way through Congress includes, as a central feature, an immigration crackdown that helped usher the bill through the House last month. And while Trump's approval rating is underwater across almost every major issue, including the economy, recent polls indicate that his approach to immigration is the sole exception, winning more supporters than detractors. Still, the Democrats' aggressive pushback against Trump's policies is a clear sign that they're not shying away from the immigration issue, regardless of the potential pitfalls. And the de-masking of ICE agents is just one front of a much broader fight they're taking up this year. In recent weeks, Democrats have also rallied behind immigrants deported without due process, including a Maryland resident who was mistakenly sent to El Salvador. They've staged public protests outside migrant detention centers, like the one in Newark that led to McIver's arrest. And top Democrats are up in arms after DHS agents stormed into the district office of Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and handcuffed a staffer with accusations that aides were 'harboring' immigration 'rioters.' Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, characterized the latter incident as 'intolerable.' 'I'm relieved this situation was resolved, but DHS's actions — first, in attempting to enter the office without a warrant or consent, and then proceeding to handcuff and detain a terrified young congressional staffer without cause — were the stuff of police in a banana republic or a gangster state,' Raskin said in an email. 'This outrageous behavior reflects an alarming disregard for the law and a shocking disrespect for the people's House and the lawmaking branch of government,' he continued. 'DHS does not have the authority to barge into congressional offices with vague demands and arrest or intimidate legislative staffers. We will not tolerate such lawlessness.' Raskin and Nadler are pressing Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), to stage hearings on the unusual incident. The most recent battleline of the partisan immigration war arrived this week, when Trump announced a travel ban affecting 12 countries. The makeup of the targets — largely African or Middle Eastern countries with mostly non-white populations — were not overlooked by Democrats, some of whom accused the president of using official policy to promote bigotry. 'Make no mistake: Trump's latest travel ban will NOT make America safer,' Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) wrote on X. 'We cannot continue to allow the Trump administration to write bigotry and hatred into U.S. immigration policy.' Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) delivered a similar warning. 'From his first Muslim Ban, Trump's travel bans have always betrayed … the ideals and values that inspired America's Founders,' Beyer posted on X. 'Trump's use of prejudice and bigotry to bar people from entering the U.S. does not make us safer, it just divides us and weakens our global leadership.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
2 days ago
- The Hill
Democrats itching for fight over immigration
Democrats are diving forcefully into the immigration fight, dismissing concerns about political backlash to confront President Trump directly on a polarizing issue that ranks among the president's strongest suits in the eyes of voters. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is leading the charge. Not only has he waged an animated defense of Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), who is facing federal charges following a recent scuffle with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents outside a migrant detention center in New Jersey, but he's also demanding that the masked ICE officers involved in the fracas — and Trump's broader mass deportation campaign — be publicly identified. 'Every single ICE agent who is engaged in this aggressive overreach and are trying to hide their identities from the American people will be unsuccessful in doing that,' Jeffries told reporters in the Capitol. 'This is America,' he added. 'This is not the Soviet Union. We're not behind the Iron Curtain. This is not the 1930s. And every single one of them, no matter what it takes, no matter how long it takes, will of course be identified.' The call drew immediate howls from officials with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other Republicans, who have long-accused Democrats of siding with people in the country illegally over the rule of law — a major theme of Trump's successful campaign last year. Many of the GOP critics are accusing Democrats of putting the safety of federal law enforcement officers in jeopardy. 'We take threats to law enforcement very seriously. As the state leading the nation in immigration enforcement, FL will not sit idly by and allow agents from DHS/ICE and/or state and local agencies to be targeted,' Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) posted on X, linking to Jeffries's comments. DeSantis said he's instructed Florida law enforcers to be on the lookout for any 'doxxing' campaigns aimed at law enforcers, and to respond quickly. 'Sabotaging the work of those in the immigration enforcement arena will not stand!' he wrote. Capitol Hill Republicans are piling on. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) this week introduced legislation designed to shield federal law enforcers from doxxing. Violators could face five years in prison. The pushback has done little to dissuade Jeffries, who on Thursday doubled down on his identification push, wondering why those involved in Trump's mass deportation campaign should enjoy privileges of anonymity that others in law enforcement don't. 'It seems to me that the officials at the Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, should be held to the same standards as every other part of law enforcement in terms of transparency,' he said. The strategy has its risks. Trump has built his political brand around an 'America First' message that helped propel him into the White House in 2016 and again in 2024. His 'big, beautiful bill' working its way through Congress includes, as a central feature, an immigration crackdown that helped usher the bill through the House last month. And while Trump's approval rating is underwater across almost every major issue, including the economy, recent polls indicate that his approach to immigration is the sole exception, winning more supporters than detractors. Still, the Democrats' aggressive pushback against Trump's policies is a clear sign that they're not shying away from the immigration issue, regardless of the potential pitfalls. And the de-masking of ICE agents is just one front of a much broader fight they're taking up this year. In recent weeks, Democrats have also rallied behind immigrants deported without due process, including a Maryland resident who was mistakenly sent to El Salvador. They've staged public protests outside migrant detention centers, like the one in Newark that led to McIver's arrest. And top Democrats are up in arms after DHS agents stormed into the district office of Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and handcuffed a staffer with accusations that aides were 'harboring' immigration 'rioters.' Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, characterized the latter incident as 'intolerable.' 'I'm relieved this situation was resolved, but DHS's actions — first, in attempting to enter the office without a warrant or consent, and then proceeding to handcuff and detain a terrified young congressional staffer without cause — were the stuff of police in a banana republic or a gangster state,' Raskin said in an email. 'This outrageous behavior reflects an alarming disregard for the law and a shocking disrespect for the people's House and the lawmaking branch of government,' he continued. 'DHS does not have the authority to barge into congressional offices with vague demands and arrest or intimidate legislative staffers. We will not tolerate such lawlessness.' Raskin and Nadler are pressing Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), to stage hearings on the unusual incident. The most recent battleline of the partisan immigration war arrived this week, when Trump announced a travel ban affecting 12 countries. The makeup of the targets — largely African or Middle Eastern countries with mostly non-white populations — were not overlooked by Democrats, some of whom accused the president of using official policy to promote bigotry. 'Make no mistake: Trump's latest travel ban will NOT make America safer,' Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) wrote on X. 'We cannot continue to allow the Trump administration to write bigotry and hatred into U.S. immigration policy.' Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) delivered a similar warning. 'From his first Muslim Ban, Trump's travel bans have always betrayed … the ideals and values that inspired America's Founders,' Beyer posted on X. 'Trump's use of prejudice and bigotry to bar people from entering the U.S. does not make us safer, it just divides us and weakens our global leadership.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Two minors charged for incident with Waverly School Resource Officer
WAVERLY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) — Two juveniles have been charged by the Waverly Police Department following an investigation into an incident involving the students and the School Resource Officer at Waverly High School on June 3. WPD did not provide details on the incident itself, or the charges brought against the two minors involved. 'The investigation is now complete, and the case is officially closed,' WPD said in a statement. WPD worked closely with Waverly School District officials in order to get to the bottom of the investigation, which involved a 'thorough and objective review.' 'The Waverly School District and the Waverly Police Department remain committed to working together to ensure the safety and well-being of all students, staff, and members of the community,' the statement said. The case officially closed on Friday, June 6. Jeffries declines to embrace Musk amid the billionaire's feud with Trump Trump administration faces growing bipartisan pressure over Job Corps Shark-freeing diver says Trump pardon surprised him Democrats call for halt of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac privatization Two minors charged for incident with Waverly School Resource Officer Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
