Ramsey institutes 'crime emergency'

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Metropolitan Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey yesterday declared a citywide crime emergency in response to a "troubling increase" in homicides -- 13 this month, including the stabbing of an aspiring British politician Sunday in Georgetown.

More police officers will be placed on foot and bike patrols, the chief said, adding that officials have noted a 14 percent increase in assaults with a deadly weapon and an 8 percent rise in robberies in the past 30 days.

In addition, Chief Ramsey reassigned a top commander because of his comments Monday during a community meeting in Georgetown about the slaying of Alan Senitt, 27.

Cmdr. Andy Solberg was transferred from the 2nd Police District to the department's Office of Security.

During Monday's meeting at Christ Church, Cmdr. Solberg was trying to urge vigilance among hundreds of Georgetown residents concerned by the brutality of the killing of the British political activist.

Mr. Senitt's throat was slashed as he tried to prevent the robbery and rape of a female companion about 2:15 a.m. Sunday.

"I would think that at 2 o'clock in the morning on the streets of Georgetown, a group of three people, one of whom is 15 yearsold, one of whom is a bald chunky fat guy, are going to stand out," Cmdr. Solberg said. "They were black. This is not a racial thing to say that black people are unusual in Georgetown. This is a fact of life."

The four suspects in the Senitt slaying -- including a 15-year-old boy -- are black and have been charged with murder and attempted robbery.

The commander's comments did not prompt any complaints, said Chief Ramsey, adding that he transferred Cmdr. Solberg to "maintain public confidence."

Cmdr. Solberg, who is white, was not available for comment yesterday.