No. It’s not an authoritarian power grab by any stretch, as the mayor has claimed. It does mean law enforcement and policing in Washington, D.C., will get much better. And crime will be reduced significantly, while quality of life will improve greatly.
When federal agents and congressmen are getting carjacked, and interns being murdered and violent youths rampaging in the streets, it is justified, regardless of what selective and manipulated crime statistics touted by critics may try to say.
And even local Democrats admit it.
First let’s recall that, despite the wild hysterics on the left and its subordinate media, President Trump has full legal and constitutional authority to take over D.C.’s police force. Our nation’s capital is a federal city with only limited self-rule provided by congress since 1973.
The Home Rule Act allows Trump to take control of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) for up to 30 days for a “public safety emergency” after which he needs to ask congress for an extension.
Trump has already stated that he plans to seek extensions indefinitely. He has also stated he can declare a national emergency if congress doesn’t act.
Trump also said that his administration would be pushing a crime bill involving D.C. to use the city as “a very positive example.” He said it will serve as a “beacon” for other Democratic cities such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
And on the ground the “takeover” is not the fascist exercise claimed by the left. In practical terms it only means that the Chief of Police, while keeping the mayor in the loop, now officially reports to Drug Enforcement Administration head Terry Cole, Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and ultimately, the president.
Mayor Muriel Browser has tried to say otherwise, implying a partnership with the feds, but no matter how collaborative things will be, she isn’t in charge of the MPD anymore.
Priorities, taskings, and other policies will now be set by DOJ in consultation and coordination with MPD and the mayor’s office. Some of the restrictive policies that until now have hamstrung the MPD may be loosened, and the force may be able to finally police more effectively.
This also allows the federal government to better coordinate added federal law enforcement assets such as the FBI, Park Police, and Secret Service already in the city, and the National Guard, now deployed in small numbers, to support the MPD in its policing.
There has already been a visible increase of federal law enforcement officers, including 500 FBI, DEA, and other agents across most public parts of the city.
The White House has said that federal agents in the city would be “identified, in marked units, and highly visible,” though those restrictions are not mandated by law.
Meanwhile, city officials are admitting the added federal resources help.
“You’re talking about 500 additional personnel in the District of Columbia,” MPD Chief Pamela Smith said. “We’re down in numbers with our D.C. police officers. So, this enhanced presence is going to impact us in a positive way.”
At a Wednesday evening checkpoint in Northwest Washington, local and federal officers, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, pulled over drivers for seat belt violations or broken tail lights, enacting the “broken windows” policing that succeeded in New York City in the 1990s and early 2000s.
D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D) said Wednesday that by all indications, federal agencies were not “trying to boss MPD” around and, in fact, were soliciting ideas about how they could be helpful.
Smith said Tuesday that she provided a strategic plan to Terry Cole. “I think collaborating with MPD and providing additional resources can only be for the good,” Mendelson added.
Bowser and Chief Smith have both said that a boost in law enforcement efforts from federal law enforcement could help the city further drive down crime.
In practice, in addition to the visible presence of federal officers, agents less familiar with policing the city have been paired with MPD officers or officers with the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division.
And they are quickly making a difference. The Washington Post reports:
About 130 FBI agents have been detailed to the effort, including agents dispatched on temporary assignments from the bureau’s Philadelphia and Baltimore field offices.
On the first two nights of the operation, they conducted joint patrols with D.C. police officers or assisted in arrests tied to open warrants. FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that agents have been involved with local partners in making at least 18 arrests since Monday evening, including apprehending one suspect wanted for murder as well others wanted for DUI, theft, assault and violating a restraining order. Agents also detained several people for illegal gun possession, he said.
Meanwhile, despite the shrieking about troops on the streets of D.C. being some sort of menace, the fact is that, as a federal city, D.C. does not control its National Guard, which is effectively under presidential command already.
So far, half of the 800 National Guard troops who were mobilized to guard D.C. have processed in, and some of those troops are already on the streets. Their role will primarily be focused on traffic control and logistics, freeing up MPD officers to focus on crime.
The expectation is that the National Guard troops will be deployed to federal parks, monuments and federal buildings, some are based out of the National Park Police station in Anacostia Park, while federal law enforcement would be deployed to higher-crime areas of the city.
Far from appearing threatening, many troops have been seen casually taking selfies with citizens and tourists on the Mall. The troops were not carrying guns but had weapons available if needed.
Guard forces begin to work more closely with local police to determine how best to support them.
Meanwhile, National Fraternal Order of Police President Joe Gamaldi likes Trump’s plan a lot.
Talking about D.C., Gamaldi said: “Their average homicide rate has doubled in the last 10 years. They used to average less than 100 homicides. Now they average over 200,” a claim which is backed up by the city’s own data.
And it’s because you have a radical element on that city council that has defunded their police. They have embraced revolving door criminal justice policies. And frankly, they treated the hardworking men and women of law enforcement in that town like crap. So, of course, they need help. You have to do something, otherwise it’s going to get out of control.
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Democrats, socialists, communists, the lowest human life forms in America and all are responsible for the tens of millions of illegal aliens bleeding middle class Americans of every cent they have earned in their lifetimes.Deport them along with the illegals.