August 2024

Change of Command

Major Marisa Kuhar is the new Commander of the Franconia District Station. She replaces Commander Kevin Shaw who has been promoted to Deputy Chief.

Dear Franconia Community,

Since I have only recently taken over as Commander of the Franconia District Police Station, I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about myself. But first, let me congratulate our outgoing Station Commander, recently promoted Deputy Chief Kevin Shaw, and thank him for his work as Franconia Station Commander.  I wish him success in his new role commanding the Resource Management Bureau.

I started my FCPD career in 2000 as a Cadet.  Since graduating from the Criminal Justice Academy, I have had assignments over the years that include the Sully, Mason, and McLean District Stations. I have also had assignments with the Youth Services Division, the Criminal Justice Academy, the Department of Public Safety Communications (9-1-1 Center), and the Major Crimes Bureau.  I was also afforded the opportunity for temporary assignments with the Criminal Investigations Section of Mason District Station and with the Organized Crime and Narcotics Bureau, and I was the Court Liaison Supervisor for a brief period.

I have spent the majority of my career in a patrol capacity. I have been a supplemental member of the department’s Peer Support Team and currently remain a member of the department’s Honor Guard.  Additionally, I am the Commander of the FCPD Crisis Negotiations Team.  In my current rank as Major, I have held the position of Staff Duty Officer for the department and worked as a Commander in the Resource Management Bureau.  I enjoy working in a patrol capacity and went back to work as a Staff Duty Officer for a second time just prior to being assigned here in Franconia.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Liberty University and hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. I have also completed PERF’s Executive Course, Senior Management Institute for Policing.

I am excited for my new role as the Commander of the Franconia District Station, and I would like to continue growing within the department and implementing changes that benefit the officers and community.  I have heard many great things about this community and the officers that serve in this district.  I have personally seen great police work from the officers of this district while working as the Duty Officer for the County.  I understand a primary community concern is traffic and thefts.  I welcome any additional feedback for focus and hope to address the major concerns of both the community and the officers.  I am also excited about the new station that is under construction and on schedule to be completed next year. I hope to have more information in the coming months on that topic.

I would like to thank all for the warm welcoming I have already received since arriving and look forward to meeting more of you in the future and addressing any concerns.

Sincerely,

• Commander's Message - New Commander Introduction
• June Officer of the Month - Technology Assists Arrest
• July Officer of the Month - Looking Beyond the Traffic Stop
• FCPD Information Releases - Franconia-related Information Releases
• Crime Prevention - Law Enforcement and Employment Scams
• Community Events - NNO, Safety Seat Inspections, Back-to-School
• Community Advisory Committee - Summer Break
• Crime Reporting - FCPD Data Portal
• Crime Statistics - July Crime Report; Arrests, and Incidents and Calls for Service
• Crime Solvers - How to Provide Crime Tips
• Recruiting

Franconia’s June Officer of the Month is Detective Mohammad Amini from our Shopping Center Unit. 

Detective Amini stands out as a leader in his unit as well as the entire District Station. In the month of June, Detective Amini led the district with almost 50 arrests and recovered thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise.  He maintains strong relationships with retailers, allowing him to reunite lost children and identify suspects involved in crimes throughout the district.  He also serves as the station Gang Coordinator.

On June 3rd, Detective Amini received a Flock (license plate reader) alert for a stolen vehicle out of Georgia.  He immediately coordinated with the Real Time Crime Center and requested a photo of the suspect while blocking in the unoccupied vehicle.  Moments later he located the suspect, using the photo he was provided.  The man was taken into custody and the vehicle was recovered without incident.

For his quick thinking and innovative use of technology in policing, we are proud to select Detective Mohammad Amini as the Franconia Officer of the Month for June.

Officer Peter J. Mason is Franconia's Officer of the Month for July. Officer Mason is quickly establishing himself as a role model for proactive policing.

On July 19^th, 2024, he responded to a car meet and quickly obtained information from witnesses about a brandishing.  Before the suspects could flee the scene, he conducted a traffic stop, seizing two semi-automatic pistols and arresting the offenders without incident.

On July 24^th, 2024, he was on patrol when he stopped a vehicle for a traffic infraction.  Officer Mason’s roadside interview and investigation led to the seizure of cash, crack cocaine, and 112 fentanyl pills.  This offender was also arrested without incident.

For his proactive policing and ability to “look beyond the traffic stop”, we are proud to announce Officer Peter J. Mason as the Franconia Officer of the Month for July.

Scam Alerts

The FCPD Financial Crimes Unit is constantly working to ensure that community members don't fall victim to scams. They provide education on identifying and recognizing scams and how to report them. Here are two scams that have become more prevalent in recent months both in Fairfax County and throughout the DMV region.

Law Enforcement Impersonator Scam This financial scam involves suspects contacting victims by phone or email and posing as police or government agents. The suspect informs the victim they have outstanding legal obligations, such as unpaid fines for fictitious traffic and arrest violations.

The scammer uses intimidation tactics, such as threats of arrest or legal consequences, to coerce victims into complying with demands to resolve the obligation by purchasing gift cards, cryptocurrency, bank wirings, or through financial applications.   

How Do I Prevent the Scam?

The police will NEVER ask you for money or demand immediate payment in the form of gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other financial options to resolve the issue.

• Verify Caller Identity: If you receive a suspicious call, ask for the caller’s name, badge number, and department. Hang up and independently verify their identity by calling our non-emergency line at 703-691-2131. 
• Stay Calm and Cautious: Approach these calls with caution, especially those prompting immediate action or requesting sensitive information. Remember, legitimate authorities will not rush you into making payments or divulging personal information.
• Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect a scam or have fallen victim to one in Fairfax County, report it to FCPD’s Financial Crimes Unit through our online portal here. If you are unable to file a report on the computer, call our non-emergency line to have an officer assist you with making a FiCOR report.
• Don’t Share Personal Information: Never share personal or financial information over the phone unless you initiated the call and are certain of the recipient’s legitimacy.
• Consult with Family or Friends: Before making any financial decisions, especially those involving large sums or unfamiliar technologies, consult with trusted family members or friends

Employment Scam Employment scammers post advertisements for fake jobs on common career sites such as Indeed, Monster, and Careerbuilder; social media platforms; and through emails.

These fraudulent postings often appear legitimate at first glance, promising career advancement, flexible schedules, and high salaries. The objective of the scam is to get the victim to send money, divulge personal information, or provide free labor.

Signs of an Employment Scam are when Scammers:  

• Pressures or threatens you to make an immediate decision.
• Requests that you open bank accounts and initiate bank wire transfers.
• Asks you to deposit funds into Bitcoin companies, such as Bitcoin ATM, Coinbase, or Gemeni.
• Requests you to withdraw funds in cash and send them via FedEx or UPS.
• Asks for access or passcodes to personal accounts including emails, bank accounts, CashApp, Paypal, etc.
• Insists on only communicating via text, WhatsApp, or Google Hangouts.

How Do I Avoid an Employment Scam?

• Do Your Research: Verify the legitimacy of the company by looking up their information online, visiting the location in-person, or calling the employer through a verified contact number.
• Be Cautious of Unrealistic Offers: Scammers will lure unsuspecting victims with offers such as high pay, immediate hire without interview, flexible hours or guaranteed promotions.
• Never Pay Employers for the Promise of a Job: Legitimate employers do not ask you to pay to get a job through gift cards, cryptocurrency, Venmo, Zelle, CashApp, PayPal, etc. Do not transfer money to a would-be “employer.” Scammers also may deposit money into your accounts, likely from another scam victim, to convince you their business is legitimate. 

If you suspect a scam or have fallen victim to one in Fairfax County, report it to FCPD’s Financial Crimes Unit through our online portal here. If you are unable to file a report on the computer, call our non-emergency line at 703-691-2131 to have an officer assist you with making a FiCOR report.

Community Events

National Night Out In Franconia and across Fairfax County, August 6th was National Night Out. There were more than 166 events in the county and 32 of them in the Franconia Police District. Next year, NNO will again be on the first Tuesday in August. Plan ahead.

August 17th and 31st: Child Safety Seat Installation and Inspection Franconia Governmental Center, 6121 Franconia Road, 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Inspections are done on a first come, first served basis. Be sure to install the child safety seat yourself beforehand so the inspection can be performed. If necessary, the seat will be properly re-installed and you will be shown how to install the seat properly in the future. It has been estimated that more than 70% of child safety seats are improperly installed.

Back to School for Everyone

August 19th is back-to-school day for Fairfax County Public Schools. It's an event that isn't just for students. Everyone needs to be prepared for the changes in schedule, school buses, school zones (with speed cameras), pedestrian traffic, school crossings, crossing guards, bicycles, scooters and more.

To help the community prepare for the date, Franconia District Station officers assisted at the Back-to-School Community Day held at the Lorton Community Center on Saturday August 3rd. The event, with Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck, School Board Member Mateo Dunne and community organizations, provided school supplies, health testing, information on support services, and, of course, fun and games for the kids.

For more information about events or for other crime prevention information and assistance, contact the Franconia District Station Crime Prevention and Outreach Office:

Crime Prevention: MPO Sean Corcoran [sean.corcoran@fairfaxcounty.gov] 

Community Outreach: PFC Kevin Rosa [FCPDFranconiaCPO@fairfaxcounty.gov]

The CAC is a forum for exchange of information between the Police Department and the community. All are welcome and invited to attend and participate. Franconia District Station meetings are normally held on the third Wednesday of the month at the Franconia Governmental Center Community Room, 6121 Franconia Road.

The Franconia CAC is on summer break for the months of July and August. Meetings will resume in September.

FCPD Crime Data Resources

FCPD has established a portal which provides links to many of the statistical data resources that are used as a management tool to "reduce crime, inform the public, and promote policing". The Crime Data Portal also provides access to other data resources including:

• Download of a weekly crime log for Fairfax County.
• A link to the DMV Traffic Data Records System (TREDS) database of traffic accidents and other traffic safety information.
• Arrests, Citations and Warnings dashboards with mapping, demographics, and other statistics for the last full year.
• Links to reports and other resources related to FCPD activity.

Crime Mapping Dashboard One of the portal resources is the Crime Mapping Dashboard. The screenshot here illustrates the kind of information on the dashboard. Filters allow selection of a particular station or type of crime.

Franconia District July Crime Report

The Franconia District Crime Report contains summaries of incidents that have occurred in the Franconia Police District. Crime reports are also posted periodically on nextdoor.  Incident information is based on initial reports and may be subject to change. The reports are not a comprehensive list of every police event.

Franconia Calls for Service, Incident and Arrest Trends

July Arrests, Incidents and Calls for Service

Group A incidents are more serious offenses as designated by the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS), Group B are less serious incidents, and Non-Reportable incidents are those that do not require reporting under NIBRS. To see the call types included in each Call for Service category click  HERE. For a list of Group A and B Incidents click  HERE. For information on how these statistics are compiled, click HERE .

Anyone with information pertaining to cases is asked to contact Crime Solvers by one of the methods below. If the information provided results in an arrest and indictment, apprehension of a fugitive or the recovery of stolen property or seizure of illegal drugs, a cash reward ranging between $100 to $1000 is paid to the tipster.

• By Phone -1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477);
• By Text - Send a text message to 847411, then type the keyword "FCCS" add a space, type your tip info and hit Send;
• By web - Click HERE; or,
• Download our Mobile tip411 App "Fairfax Co Crime Solvers."

Join the Best | Join FCPD

If you want to be part of something larger than yourself and overcome new challenges every day, the Fairfax County Police Department is the agency for you.