DC’s City Council cut police funding, but now they seek more officers due to rising shootings.

Nation’s Capital⁤ Sees Surge in Homicides

Washington, D.C.’s city council made​ a controversial decision in the ‌summer of ⁤2020 to ​cut millions from the police budget. However, as ‍homicides continue to rise in the ⁢nation’s capital, ⁢some liberal council⁣ members are now advocating for more police ​presence.

After witnessing 13 homicides​ in just the first ⁤five days of August, council members Brianne‍ Nadeau and Phil Mendelson ​proudly highlighted their efforts ‌to secure additional resources for ‍the police force. Nadeau⁢ specifically emphasized​ the importance of addressing ‍the city’s “hot spots.” This marks a significant shift in ​stance for ‌both council members, as‌ they had previously voted to reduce⁢ the city’s police budget by $15 million during ​the height ⁣of the Black Lives ⁣Matter movement in 2020. Nadeau had even endorsed calls to ‌”defund MPD” and remove police from schools, while Mendelson praised a police reform‍ report that called for a reduction in the size, responsibilities, and budget of the MPD.

The⁣ sudden‌ support⁤ for increased policing from Nadeau and Mendelson reflects the ‍political ⁢backlash against the “defund the ⁢police” movement, which gained momentum in liberal cities following George Floyd’s ‌death. ​Cities like ⁢New York and Los Angeles ⁤initially cut ⁣police funding in 2020, ‍only‍ to restore it a⁣ year later ​due ‌to a⁢ surge in violent crime.

D.C. Police ⁢Union chairman⁢ Gregg Pemberton criticized the ⁤council members’ change‌ in position, accusing them of trying to avoid responsibility for the significant increase in violent crime. Pemberton urged Nadeau to repeal the policies that have negatively impacted the MPD over ‍the ⁤past ​three years if ⁢she genuinely‌ cares about public safety.

Despite multiple requests ⁣for comment, neither Nadeau ⁣nor Mendelson responded.

In addition⁢ to the ⁣council’s support for defunding the police in 2020, ‌D.C. lawmakers passed ‌the ‍Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act, which made it easier to‌ terminate police officers. A bipartisan ‍congressional group attempted to repeal the act, but President Joe Biden vetoed the ⁢effort. Even D.C.’s liberal mayor, Muriel Bowser, criticized certain⁢ provisions of the ​bill, stating that the city should not have unrestricted access to ⁢all police ⁤records.

Another council member, Brooke Pinto, ‌also initially voted in ‍favor of defunding⁢ the police but has now expressed support‌ for “first responders” amidst the ​ongoing crime ​wave. Pinto recently boasted⁣ about her ‍efforts ⁢to provide the police with the necessary tools to ensure community safety. However, Pinto did not ⁢respond to‍ a request for⁢ comment.‍ In 2020,‍ she⁤ criticized the⁢ city’s overreliance ⁣on policing, claiming that it burdened residents and ⁤failed to address ⁤pressing issues.