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Every day, constituents contact my office about crime. Episodes of groups of "smash and grab" incidents are deeply troubling, as are the reports of multiple overnight car break-ins. While still quite rare, there have been more reports of guns in our community than we are used to and those cannot become the norm.
I take all of this very seriously.
We all deserve to feel safe in our communities, and public safety must be a top priority for our city government. Our response to the increase in certain crimes and fears about safety necessarily requires many elements.
Effective, accountable law enforcement is a critical component. My office is in consistent contact with the 2nd District and leadership at the Metropolitan Police Department generally to explore ways to support their work and enhance community outreach. I value the work of our many excellent officers and am committed to helping MPD rebound from its current staffing lows and recruit officers who reflect the communities they serve. Toward that end, I have:
- co-introduced the Compensation and Development of Extraordinary Trainees (CADET) Act, which would nearly double pay for MPD cadets and expand age eligibility by nine years.
- voted in support of a Fiscal Year 2024 budget that funds MPD’s full hiring and retention request, which will help expand law enforcement personnel and advance community-based policing goals.
An important next step will be to bring on a new police chief to replace Chief Robert Contee, who is retiring to join the FBI. I look forward to working with Interim Police Chief Ashan Benedict while the search for a new chief proceeds. Chief Contee has been an excellent leader and his loss stings. But the recruitment of a new chief also offers an opportunity. I hope the administration will use the process to solicit input from community members on what experience they are seeking in a new chief and to nominate a replacement who reflects those priorities. Bringing on a new chief can be a vehicle to strengthen partnership between MPD and communities most affected by crime, which in turn can be of real value in addressing ongoing issues.
The Mayor has proposed a series of legislative changes to address crime, and the Council will hold hearings on those proposals soon. This is an issue that matters to us all, and while I do not serve on the relevant committee, I expect to engage deeply in the coming process. Any changes must be evidence-based and prioritize proven techniques for crime prevention. Politics too often clouds our response to crime. This needs to be a place where we set aside ideology and work together to craft sensible solutions.
Doing so is critical for Ward 3, but also for the city as whole. Our crime issues are real, but the most dramatic impacts of crime are felt by residents in historically underserved neighborhoods. In too many neighborhoods we are seeing cycles of trauma and violence that if unbroken can only grow worse. The number of children in the crosshairs is already much too high. I proudly voted in support of a Fiscal Year 2024 budget that funds Out of School Time programming, expanded recreation center hours, summer youth employment, and other programs to provide productive opportunities for youth and that help keep them out of trouble.
Our compass points must be both to address the root causes of crime and to hold individuals accountable when crimes are committed; this is not an either-or debate. To ensure real public safety, we need an approach grounded in data and evidence complete with a well-resourced police department and services for vulnerable neighbors. While accountability is fundamental, we must also recognize that we cannot incarcerate our way to safety. We must invest to create hope and a sense of opportunity for those who have neither.
What We're Doing
On the recent rash of thefts from CVS, Target, and other stores in several neighborhoods, our office has coordinated with law enforcement professionals, public safety experts, Main Street business associations, and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners to respond to these “smash and grab” property crimes. I have met with corporate representatives from Target about increasing thefts at their Tenleytown location, and my staff had a productive conversation with MPD last week about how I can support MPD in addressing the persistent thefts at CVS stores. We will continue to engage with the Office of the Attorney General and other city agencies to support MPD's efforts.
On the recent spike in thefts from automobiles, we similarly have been working with MPD and victims, including encouraging increased overnight police presence in neighborhoods that appear to have been primary targets. It is very troubling to think there are people out there in the middle of the night looking for opportunities for theft. This is a form of crime that has been persistent for many years, but it has risen significantly and we need to find an effective way to respond.
I welcome ideas from constituents, ANCs, Main Streets, and neighborhood groups about how to more effectively address public safety in our community. Contact us here.
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