DC Mayor wants $11 million to recuperate defunded police

Following calls to defund the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in 2020, a major budget cut from last year has left some communities requesting better law enforcement assistance.

According to a statement from the Mayor’s office last Wednesday, “This summer, as residents across DC – and especially residents who live in neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence – continue to ask for a strong, sustained police presence…”

Such requests are unsurprising, as DC’s homicide rate continues to worsen.

The evidence points to DC Mayor Muriel Bowser’s inaction as the primary reason leading to the downsize in police presence.

By trying to toe the line between supporting protestors and her own police force, Mayor Bowser seemingly ended up putting the district in a worse position than previously.

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Bowser’s inability to speak up for good-faith actors on both sides also diminished any hope for harmonious engagement, and growth, between protestors and law enforcement.

Law enforcement is necessary for tackling the issue of gratuitous violence. And community advocates who ensure that police are not overstepping the boundaries of the law are equally necessary.

But without proper funding for, and coordination between, either side of the issue, everyone loses.

A deficient budget

Following the outcomes of the 2020 budget cut, Mayor Bowser announced a plan to hire 170 officers at the MPD from now, through the end of Fiscal Year 2022.

The money cut from the budget is meant to be repurposed for non-law enforcement public safety efforts, such as the new position of Gun-Violence Prevention Director and the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE).

The DC Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) commented on the budget cuts, saying “There is no need for this type of sweeping reform to be completed in such a hasty and unthoughtful manner. The Councilmembers are seizing on the public sentiment to impose these changes that will significantly handicap the department for years to come.”

Some Councilmembers felt differently about the decreased funding. Councilmember Mary Cheh told WUSA9 that “The reductions to MPD’s budget recommended today are responsible and responsive, but this is certainly not the end of the conversation,”

The $11 million that Mayor Bowser wants to supplement the budget is meant to pay for “immediate recruitment, hiring, and training of new officers.”

This comes after only 42 officers were hired by MPD this year, which pales in comparison to the typical yearly recruitment of 250 officers.

At the end of her announcement, Bowser said, “The hiring opportunity comes as the department is emphasizing a focused effort on improving police-community relations and requiring all divisions of the department to develop comprehensive community outreach plans.”

The example provided for this sort of outreach is MPD’s Community-Focused Patrol Unit. The new unit is comprised of officers on bikes and motorcycles which are focused on “building relationships with residents and businesses.”

Necessary clarity

Last year, Mayor Bowser ordered a “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) mural to be painted in the newly-named “Black Lives Matter Plaza,” just outside of the White House.

Following this, DC representatives for BLM called the mural out as a means for pandering to supporters of the movement.