The D.C. mayor and the police chief Wednesday stressed the need for additional recruits for the police department and increased community engagement with both violence-interruption programs and police in order to combat violent crime in the District.
In a Wednesday news conference announcing the arrest of a suspect in connection to the fatal shooting of 6-year-old Nyiah Courtney, Mayor Muriel Bowser said while overall crime rates in the District decreased in 2021, the number of homicides has risen.
“We saw shooting incidents escalate last year during the pandemic. This year we’ve continued to experience an unacceptable level of gun violence,” Bowser said. “While we’ve actually seen a slight dip in where we were with gunshots, those gunshots have proven to be more fatal.”
Law enforcement consultant Deon Joseph joins The Story
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Wednesday that she plans to add 170 police officers to the city’s force amid rising violence and several high profile shootings in the city. Right now, I have directed MPD to use any overtime necessary to meet our public safety demands, the Democratic mayor wrote in a statement. The statement noted that Bowser plans to hire 170 additional Metropolitan Police Department officers by 2022. But we know that is not a complete solution or the right long-term solution. We also know we need all of our officers to be fresh, rested, and in the best position to make good decisions – and that requires having a full force to meet all of our community’s needs.
Arrest made in murder of 6-year-old Nyiah Courtney; father indicted in narcotics conspiracy: DC police
By FOX 5 Digital Team
Published
Arrest made in murder of 6-year-old DC girl
DC police announced on Wednesday that they d made an arrest in the murder of a 6-year-old girl in Southeast.
WASHINGTON - Authorities have made an arrest and announced charges in the murder of a 6-year-old girl who was gunned down earlier this month in Southeast D.C. in a killing that sent shockwaves through the community. I stood before you just over a week ago and said we would get justice for 6-year-old Nyiah Courtney. The prayers of the community have been answered. I’m here to announce today that we’ve got our man, D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee said at a press conference.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announces plans to add 170 police officers to the city s force and requests $11M more funding to recruit and train them amid rising violence
Muriel Bowser, the Democrat mayor of Washington DC, announced on Wednesday that she was asking the City Council to increase the police numbers
Bowser, who has opposed the campaign to defund the police, is seeking an additional $11 million to pay for 20 new officers this year and 150 in 2022
Last year the City Council voted to defund the police by $15 million
DC in 2020 saw homicides hit a 16-year high and the trend is continuing in 2021
Washington DC mayor calls for more police funds as murders, violence increase in US capital Thursday, 29 July 2021 6:04 AM
[ Last Update: Thursday, 29 July 2021 6:04 AM ] US police officers are see near the White House, Washington DC. (Reuters file photo)
Mayor of Washington DC, Muriel Bowser, has called for more police funding amid a surge in homicides and high-profile gun violence in the US capital.
In a letter to the DC Council, the Democratic mayor called for “a strong, sustained
police presence
” over the past year.
Bowser will need to get the approval of $11 million from DC Council to hire more cops over the next two years