As President Donald Trump’s federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department draws to a close, the Trump administration boasted a high number of arrests and illegal guns seized.
Speaking at a Tuesday press conference, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that since the federal takeover of Washington’s police on Aug. 7, police had made 2,177 arrests. Of those, 57 were made on Monday night, and 14 of those were illegal immigrants. Several of these were on warrants for violent crimes, including someone who reportedly pistol-whipped a victim during a carjacking and another who allegedly shot two people during an altercation.
Attorney General Pam Bondi noted that 222 illegal firearms were seized since the beginning of the takeover, eight of which were seized on Monday.
The White House directed the Washington Examiner to Leavitt’s briefing when asked for more details.
Trump took control of the MPD after a Department of Government Efficiency staffer was mugged, causing him to bemoan the state of violent crime in the capital. The takeover began on Aug. 7 and coincided with the deployment of National Guard troops.
Washington witnessed a plummet in crime rates after the takeover, a phenomenon noted by district Mayor Muriel Bowser on Aug. 27. “The most significant thing that we are highlighting today is the area of crime that was most troubling for us in 2023,” she said, noting that since the surge of federal officers, carjackings fell by 87% compared to the same period last year.
“We know that when carjackings go down, when the use of gun[s] goes down, when homicide or robbery go down, neighborhoods feel safer and are safer. So this surge has been important to us,” Bowser added.
A CBS News analysis of crime data from Aug. 7 through Aug. 25 showed that violent crime was cut significantly across the board in comparison to the five-year average for the same dates. Combined violent crime was reduced from 180 reported incidents to just 92. Three homicides were recorded over this period, which saw a nearly two-week streak of no murders.
Outside of violent crime, robberies fell from 112 recorded incidents to 42.
MURIEL BOWSER CREDITS TRUMP WITH DC CRIME DROP SINCE POLICE TAKEOVER
Trump didn’t request an extension beyond the initial 30 days, so his takeover will expire on Wednesday. However, the National Guard troops will remain in the district through at least December.
Bowser signed an executive order last week to ensure cooperation with federal law enforcement indefinitely. Her order said the district would “ensure coordination with federal law enforcement to the maximum extent allowable by law within the District.” It further requires Washington to “continue to communicate its priorities to federal counterparts and other ways the federal government can assist the District.”
