D.C. halts plans to expand police force

The D.C. police department has abandoned long-held plans to hire new officers, and instead is simply replacing those who quit, as resources dwindle for bringing on recruits.

The Metropolitan Police Department was 4,017 officers strong as of Friday, Chief Cathy Lanier told a D.C. Council panel, and that’s roughly where it will remain. As long as the District’s economy continues to struggle, she said, promises to expand the force to 4,200 will not be met.