WASHINGTON, D.C. – It’s been more than 20 days since President Trump sent National Guard troops and other federal agents to D.C. to help curb crime. Local officials said the influx of law enforcement has significantly lowered crime in the District but the presence of the troops and masked ICE agents remain a problem for residents.
“We greatly appreciate the surge in officers that enhance what MPD has been able to do in this city,” said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Mayor Bowser said overall violent crime has gone down 45 percent compared to the same time last year.
“For carjackings, the difference between this period, this 20 day period of this federal surge and last year represents an 87% reduction in carjackings in Washington DC,” said Mayor Bowser. “We know that when carjackings go down, when the use of gun goes down, when homicide or robbery go down, neighborhoods feel safer and are safer. So, this surge has been important to us for that reason.”
The data shows about 1500 arrests have been made involving DC police and federal agents during this roughly 20-day stretch. The Mayor adds federal officers might have conducted additional arrests. The DC Metro Police Chief and other officials said with the additional help, they’ve been able to take more illegal guns off the streets.
Mayor Bowser is hoping to add at least 500 new police officers to help keep these crime numbers trending down.
“We think there is more accountability in the system or at least perceived accountability in the system that is driving down behavior,” said Mayor Bowser. “We have fewer gun crimes, homicides and we have experience extreme reduction in carjackings.”
However, officials said the additional federal agents and National Guard troops have hurt trust within the community.
“We know having masked ICE agents in the community has not worked and having National Guard from other states has not been an efficient use of those resources,” said the Mayor.
Some in the community have criticized the deployment of National Guard troops to DC because there hasn’t been much for them to do. Recently, they’ve been seen around the District picking up trash and doing other so-called “community restoration” projects.
