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Major Jeffrey Mauro has taken command of the Mount Vernon District Police Station with a message that effective policing depends on public trust—and requires far more than responding to 911 calls.

“Everyone wants to feel safe,” Mauro said. “Our ability to be successful is directly proportional to the public’s trust in us. We need the public.”

Mauro became interim commander in February after Major Matthew Luik retired and was named permanent commander in April. He now oversees 94 sworn officers, five auxiliary officers, 20 civilian employees and school crossing guards.

Crime trends put vehicles and stores in focus

Violent crimes in the Mount Vernon area—including domestic violence, burglaries and assaults—are trending downward, Mauro said. Stolen-vehicle cases have also declined.

But thefts of vehicle parts and property from vehicles are rising. Many thefts happen when vehicles are left unlocked, making them “easily preventable crimes,” Mauro said. Shoplifting has increased this year as well, particularly at chain stores.

Mauro wants officers to work closely with residents, homeowner associations, businesses, schools and elected officials. Neighborhood patrol officers, also known as bike teams, can spend time in the community and interact with families at places such as school bus stops rather than responding to dispatched calls.

The station can also connect residents with community outreach officers who offer advice on making homes and other property more secure.

A career spanning patrol, major crimes and crisis response

Mauro began his Fairfax County Police Department career as a patrol officer at the Franconia station, working all three shifts. He said the district gave a young officer valuable experience because it includes homes, businesses, a shopping mall and two interstate highways.

After his promotion to sergeant, he supervised midnight and evening squads and the neighborhood patrol unit at the Mount Vernon station. He later became a second lieutenant, worked at the Fair Oaks station and supervised the major crimes squad.

Those investigations include missing-person cases, homicides, child abuse and sex crimes, which require specialized detectives to follow cases from the initial report through court proceedings.

Mauro also supervised the department’s crisis intervention team. Through a partnership with the Community Services Board, an officer and a licensed mental health professional can respond together to certain crises, such as a person threatening to jump from a building.

The pair works to de-escalate the emergency, assess the individual and try to calm the situation at the scene. Previously, officers would immediately take the person to Merrifield’s emergency clinic, now called the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health.

Mauro co-founded the department’s drone unit and has also served at the West Springfield and Mason District stations.

Police work extends beyond patrol cars

The Fairfax County Police Department uses specialized personnel and equipment to prevent and investigate crime.

Patrol officers respond to calls and monitor neighborhoods in cruisers, while bike teams focus on identifying local problems and building relationships. Detectives handle investigations through the courthouse stage, and officers paired with clinicians respond to mental health emergencies.

The drone unit operates aircraft ranging from about the size of a notebook to roughly four feet wide. The technology can help locate missing people, including someone with dementia who has wandered away.

The department also operates helicopters for search-and-rescue missions and aeromedical evacuations. Its marine patrol unit responds to emergencies on or near the water.

Mauro grew up in Los Angeles and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a master’s degree from Georgetown University. He is also a certified instructor through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services.

He describes policing as a “noble profession” involving risk, long hours, public service and direct assistance to people in need.

“It’s more than going from one 911 call to the next 911 call to the next 911 call,” Mauro said. “Law enforcement done well is a team sport.”

The department offers volunteer positions and opportunities for young people interested in law enforcement careers. The Mount Vernon Community Advisory Committee also holds a public meeting at 7 p.m. every third Wednesday.