DC Mayor Wants to Refund Police

According to the Washington Times, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has requested an additional $11 million in budget funds to add more police officers. 

Bowser said: “Last year, unfortunately, we saw a $15 million reduction in [the police] budget and because of that reduction we have not been able to keep the hiring pipeline in full effect.” 

The Mayor’s office believes the citizens of the District want more police presence: “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, the Mayor directed MPD to use any overtime necessary to meet the city’s public safety needs.”

The DC council will have to vote on the budget supplementation. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson told News4 he didn’t believe his colleagues would approve the funds, even though compared to a year ago, homicide, robberies, motor vehicle theft, and thefts from automobiles are all up in the District. 

However, this may be related to the lifting of pandemic lockdown restrictions.