Dear Neighbors and Residents of SMD 8A01,

Serving as your uncompensated, volunteer Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner is a responsibility I carry with immense pride and dedication. My primary focus has always been—and continues to be—driving systemic reform, enhancing public safety, improving city services, and holding District agencies accountable to the residents of Ward 8.

I am writing directly to clear the air regarding recent mischaracterizations surrounding my civic work, my ongoing civil action against the District of Columbia (Case No. 2026-CAB-005619), and an unsolicited memorandum issued by Office of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (OANC) General Counsel Denise Wiktor.

1. The Human Drive Behind the Lawsuit: Supporting Victims & Freeing the Wrongfully Accused

My civil lawsuit against the District arises from actions I took as a private citizen long before being elected to public office. When I provided security surveillance footage to law enforcement, it directly solved the murder of David Fairwell and brought an end to the Fairlawn serial armed robbery spree.

Exonerating an Innocent Young Man

When MPD wrongfully arrested —an 18-year-old Black youth who was facing 9 armed robbery charges—he sat in jail for months facing a destroyed future. Knowing the physical traits did not match, I refused to stay silent. I applied persistent pressure on MPD executive leadership, the OAG, and the USAO until they ordered a comprehensive secondary review. Thanks to that insistence and my surveillance footage, Tariq Scott was cleared and released. The real offender, David Crocker, was subsequently identified, arrested, pleaded guilty, and is now serving 18 years in federal prison.

Honoring Pledges to Families

My pursuit of the full homicide reward originally promised by MPD is driven by a deep personal commitment:

• Pledges to Families: I personally pledged $2,000 each to the families of David Fairwell and Brandon Gant to ensure proper tombstones could be purchased for their unmarked graves.
• Encouraging Justice for Brandon Gant: My ongoing relationship with the Gant family underscores why a trustworthy, reliable reward program is essential. Someone out there knows or saw something in the murder of Brandon Gant. When community members see arbitrary reductions in reward payouts, it undermines public trust and deters witnesses from stepping forward to bring closure in unsolved homicides.

2. Confronting the "Snitch" Stigma & Rebuilding Community Safety

You can call me any name you want—"snitch" is one I’ve heard a few times. Historically, that word referred to an insider within a criminal group who betrayed peers to cut a personal deal. Over time, however, the "stop snitching" culture expanded to label anyone who reports violent crime, including civilian victims and eyewitnesses.

That cultural stigma directly protects life-taking criminals and keeps dangerous actors on our streets:

• Fear of Retaliation: Anti-snitching norms enforce silence through fear of violence, forcing residents into silence while violent actors remain free in our neighborhoods.
• Breakdown of Justice: When a code of silence prevents community members from sharing leads or video, detectives cannot secure arrest warrants, prosecutors are forced to dismiss cases, and chronic offenders operate with impunity.
• Breaking the Cycle: Overcoming anti-snitching norms requires robust, functional, and completely transparent Crime Solvers reward programs. If we want life-taking criminals like the individual who murdered Brandon Gant taken off our streets, we must protect witnesses and ensure the District honors its reward commitments without arbitrary devaluations.

3. Separation of Private Claims & Public Policy Advocacy

It is vital to separate my private legal rights from my public duties as your Commissioner:

• Private Legal Claims (Counts I & II): Focus strictly on monetary damages for Breach of Contract and Promissory Estoppel to recover promised funds to fulfill my pledges to the Fairwell and Gant families.
• Public Oversight Claims (Counts III & IV) & ANC Resolution: Challenge MPD’s complete lack of written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), objective evidence valuation rubrics, or appeal mechanisms for a program that disbursed over $1.2 million in public funds.

The policy resolution I introduced calls for prospective program governance, transparency, and objective oversight. It contains no request for personal financial recovery, nor does it reference my private lawsuit.

4. Addressing OANC Counsel’s Inappropriate Personal Commentary

Recently, OANC General Counsel Denise Wiktor submitted an unsolicited memorandum to the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability (BEGA). While legal counsel may address technical statutory questions, Ms. Wiktor went far beyond her scope by injecting speculative personal opinions, unverified assumptions, and negative commentary regarding my motives.

This speculative commentary is deeply concerning for several reasons:

• Political Impact in an Election Year: Broadcasting unsupported accusations during an active campaign year unfairly influences public perception, misleads voters, and weaponizes administrative processes for political detriment.
• Inflaming Safety Concerns: Distorting public safety accountability efforts, victim advocacy, and whistleblowing risks creating unnecessary community tension and safety concerns.
• Formal Notice for Correction: The OANC Executive Director has been formally placed on notice that a public administrative correction is required to address this character assault and retract these speculative claims.

5. Voluntary Recusal for Complete Transparency

Under D.C. Official Code § 1-1162.23, an ethics conflict requires a direct and predictable financial effect on a public official’s personal interests. Because a prospective policy resolution on MPD SOPs provides no financial recovery, no statutory conflict exists.

However, to eliminate any potential perception of impropriety and maintain an absolute firewall between my public duties and private legal matters, I have voluntarily recused myself and will abstain from voting on the resolution. This guarantees that the Commission’s vote on public safety transparency remains unimpeachable.

Our Shared Commitment to Ward 8

My commitment to our community, to public safety, to standing alongside grieving families who deserve justice, and to protecting the innocent will never waver. I will continue to fight for the resources, safety measures, and transparent government that ANC 8A01 deserves.

For official voting logistics, election schedules, or candidate information regarding District elections, you can consult the District of Columbia Board of Elections. To see the complaint declarations and supporting documentation along with some of the videos I submitted visit: https://anc8a01.com/crime-solvers

Thank you for your continued trust and partnership.

In Service,

Tom Donohue

Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, SMD 8A01