DC Police Union hired lobbyists to push Congress to overturn city’s crime bill

TThe D.C. Police Union hired a team of lobbyists Push Congressmen Vote in favor of repealing Washington, D.C.’s overhaul A century-old criminal code These were intended to relax the punishment for certain violent crimes.

The Metropolitan Police Department’s police union represents more than 3,600 police officers. Modern Cartographers entered into a lobbying deal with the police union on February 4, to help Republicans in their efforts to support them. The revised criminal code should be overturnedAccording to a Registering Submitted to the Senate Union members opposed the rewritten Code, arguing that its provisions would lead. “exploding” crime rates.

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Days later, on Feb. 9, the House voted to overturn the legislation — setting up a showdown in the Senate as Democrats were faced with the decision of whether to back Washington’s legislative independence or avoid politically sensitive opposition ahead of the 2024 elections.

The Senate voted overwhelmingly to repeal the code. This marks the first time in thirty years that Congress has repealed any local law passed by D.C. Council. President Joe Biden said that he will sign this measure into law.

The D.C. Police Union has renewed its efforts to support another piece of legislation that targets a local crime bill.

Andrew Clyde (Republican from Georgia) introduced last week a resolution seeking to reverse recent reforms to both the Metropolitan Police Department’s and the district’s judiciary system following George Floyd’s 2020 death. Many of these reforms were focused on prohibiting neck restraints and increasing body camera footage access. They also sought to revise officer discipline procedures.

“As the Metropolitan Police Department grapples with the district’s ongoing crime crisis amidst a historic staff shortage, the D.C. Council is determined to enact a deeply flawed bill that prevents officers from effectively protecting and serving Americans in Washington,” Clyde told Clyde about the Washington Examiner Last week. “Alarmingly, this misguided law will inevitably jeopardize the MPD’s ongoing efforts to recruit and retain officers — worsening an already serious problem.”

Clyde’s bill was applauded by the D.C. Police Union as necessary to protect public safety.

“This Act is a dangerous law that destroys collective bargaining rights of MPD officers, eviscerates due process, reduces less lethal options for law enforcement during a riot, and further contributes to the critical staffing crisis that is plaguing the MPD today,” Gregg Pemberton is Union Chairman. “This Act is laced with bad policies with real-world consequences that delay justice for families and victims.”

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Clyde’s latest legislation to repeal the city’s reform law on police builds on earlier efforts to curb the district’s autonomy under the D.C. Home Rule Act. Washington, D.C. can operate independently as a city government, despite not being a state. There is one caveat: all laws must be approved by Congress before they can be enacted. This sometimes leads to a showdown between Congress and local legislators.

Clyde has repeatedly resisted this limited autonomy. Indicating plans To propose legislation to repeal the rule and place the district under Congress’s supervision.