Wheaton residents petition Westfield to improve security following double murder at mall

We, the undersigned residents of the greater Wheaton community and members of its civic associations, are writing to express our serious concerns about crime and safety at the Westfield Wheaton Mall which last week became the site for the first two murders in Montgomery County in 2017.

We recognize that Westfield is not responsible for the behavior of its customers and mall visitors, but it is responsible for the security and safety of those who visit the mall. We are writing to demand that Westfield do more to protect the community from violence on its property. Specifically, we want Westfield to:

• increase the number of guards on foot and in cars and the frequency of their patrols;
• increase the number of security cameras inside and outside the mall, including in the parking lot and garages and on sidewalks around the mall;
• communicate with the public about the security arrangements Westfield has made with Montgomery County police and WMATA police;
• publicize its security measures in the press, on TV, and post on Westfield property; and
• develop a long-term public relations campaign to strengthen the image of the Wheaton community.

There have been three murders on Westfield mall properties in Montgomery County in the past year. A fourth murder occurred in the WMATA garage that is connected to Westfield Wheaton. One of the victims was an innocent bystander who came to the aid of a fellow citizen being assaulted. We think these incidents speak for themselves as evidence that Westfield’s security measures are inadequate.

While our highest priority is for the safety of our residents and visitors, we also are concerned about the damage that these crimes have done to our community’s public image. Most of us who live in Wheaton believe that this is a relatively safe neighborhood. But that is not how Wheaton is portrayed in the local and national news media. Wheaton is perceived as being a high crime area and its most visible crimes are those that have occurred at Westfield. This has a negative impact on the entire Wheaton economy from small businesses, to homeowners, to Westfield.

We call upon Westfield to be a better neighbor, to protect those who shop and visit your mall, and to strengthen Wheaton’s reputation as a family and business friendly community. There is no more important resident to Wheaton’s public image than Westfield. For the sake of our community’s safety and well being, Westfield needs to respond to the recent crimes with aggressive and well-publicized measures and to engage in a long-term public relations effort to strengthen the image of the Wheaton community.

Sincerely,

Devota Aabel, Kensington View

Cheryl Alderdice, Wheaton Hills

Maritza Alexandra, Pleasant View

Erin Antognoli, Wheaton Hills

Meghann Babo, Wheaton Hills

Ausra M. Blekaitis, Connecticut Avenue Estates

Vilnius Blekaitis, Connecticut Avenue Estates

Matt Borron, Kensington View

Kcrystal Boschma, Wheaton Hills

Luke Boschma, Wheaton Hills

Devon Bourexis, Wheaton Hills

Irene Briggs, Connecticut Avenue Estates

Allison Brown, Connecticut Avenue Estates

Buzzell Family, Kensington View

Anne Chan, Wheaton Forest

Terry Coates, Pleasant View

Kristy Daphnis, Wheaton Hills

Mary DiBlasi, Connecticut Avenue Estates

William Devenny, Wheaton Hills

Mary Donovan, Wheaton Hills

Steven Dubicki, Wheaton Hills

Trang Duong, Wheaton Forest

Zarina Durrani, Pleasant View

Jeff Feeser, Wheaton Forest

Jeannette Feldner, Wheaton Hills

Kate Fullenkamp, Glenview

Patricia Gaffke, Glenmont Forest

Sara A. Goberdhansingh, Wheaton Hills

Maynor Guillen, Glenmont Forest

Ann Hanson, Pleasant View

Jared Hautamaki, Wheaton Hills

Rachel Hodge, Glenview

Alexandra Hoge, Wheaton Hills

Jenny House, Glenview

Terrence House, Glenview

Monya Hudsick-Obando, Glenmont Forest

Brad Hunter, Wheaton Hills

Rebecca Iverson-Hunter, Wheaton Hills

Stephanie Hurter, Pleasant View

Michelle James, Wheaton Hills

Margaret Jylkka, Glenview

Eleanor Keyser, Pleasant View

Nina Koltnow, Wheaton Regional Park

Laura Krishnan, Wheaton Hills

Sandeep Krishnan, Wheaton Hills

Amy Lemon, Wheaton Hills

Mary Lewis, Glenmont Forest

Rachel Lightbourne, Wheaton Hills

Guillermo Lazo, Wheaton Hills

Katie Lazo, Wheaton Hills

Claudia Lopez, Wheaton Park

Hamlet Lopes, Wheaton Park

Angela Magliozzi, Glenview

Rosemary Martin, Wheaton Hills

Rosa Martinez, Wheaton Hills

Jennifer Mata, Wheaton Forest

Corina Mcbride on behalf of Town & Country Homeowners Association, Inc., Pleasant View

William McCrady, Kensington View

Margaret Meenehan, Pleasant View

Jelena Mejic, Wheaton Hills

Ralph Mitchel, Douglas Avenue

Beth Montanaro, Evans Parkway

Domenico Montanaro, Evans Parkway

William Moore, Connecticut Gardens

Adrienne Mouimin, Wheaton Hills

Mike Murphy, Wheaton Hills

Heather Nelson, Wheaton Hills

Melanie Newbrough, Wheaton Hills

Stefani Olsen, Wheaton Hills

Vickie Orgel, Glenview

Anastasiya Osborne, Douglas Ave

Neil Owen, Holiday Park

Ellen-Jane Pairo, Wheaton Hills

William E. Pairo, Wheaton Hills

Maureen Paniagua, Glenmont Forest

Beth Pruski, Wheaton Hills

Kris Punga, Wheaton Hills

Shawn Punga, Wheaton Hills

Elaine Rahbar, Kensington View

Elva Ricalde, Wheaton Forrest

Vee Rice, Douglas Avenue

Daniel Rivera, Wheaton Hills

Samantha Rivera, Wheaton Hills

Judi Rockhill, Glenview

Jackelyn Ruano, Connecticut Avenue Estates

Lourdes Ruano, Connecticut Avenue Estates

Milton Ruano, Sr., Connecticut Avenue Estates

Nastasha Ruano, Connecticut Avenue Estates

Dr. Joan Rubin, Vice President, Wheaton Regional Park Neighborhood Association

Mr. P.J. Ryan, Wheaton

Hugh Salazar, Connecticut Avenue Estates

Rob Salerno, Wheaton Hills

Lewis Schlitt, Wheaton Regional Park

Sandra T. Selby, Wheaton Hills

Jameson Shroyer, Wheaton Hills

Gary Skowronski, Wheaton Hills

Shannon Skowronski, Wheaton Hills

Antonio C. Silva, Wheaton Hills

Sheila Z. Silva, Wheaton Hills

Elise Solorio, North Kensington

Pablo Solorio, North Kensington

Donna Smith, Wheaton Hills

Paula Speck, Pleasant View

Scott Taft, Wheaton Hills

Harriet Tate, Wheaton Park

Dan Thompson, Wheaton Hills

Adriano Valeri, Glenmont Forest

Nicole Warren, Douglas Avenue

Victoria Wasmund, Wheaton Hills

Mark Weaver, Colt Terrace

Martha Weaver, Colt Terrace

Laurie Weitzenkorn, Wheaton Hills

Cc: Montgomery County Council

Montgomery County Executive

Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee