Leaders in Washington, D.C., announced a new intelligence-led policing unit to crack down on violent crime in the nation’s capital after a string of shootings.
The Metropolitan Police Department, along with the FBI and other federal agencies, will begin using both tactical and investigative strategies to target illegal firearms and dangerous people throughout the district, according to a new initiative announced by Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday. The Violent Crime Impact Team aims to increase gun arrests and expedite prosecution.
“We know, that law enforcement partnerships, intelligence-led policing, and proactive collaboration lead to better outcomes,” said MPD Chief Robert Contee in a statement. “Enough is enough. Together with our law enforcement partners, we are invested and continue to make D.C. the safest city in the nation, and we will use every resource available to do so.”
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Police will also focus on linking suspects to firearms found at crime scenes using ballistics through a partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. This effort builds on previous work with the ATF that has recovered 439 ghost guns throughout the city in 2021 and 136 so far this year, as of April 11, according to the mayor’s office.
The newly announced partnerships follow a wave of shootings in the district over the past several days, particularly in the Van Ness neighborhood on Friday that resulted in an hourslong shelter-in-place order as police searched for the suspect. The suspected shooter, identified as Raymond Spencer, was found dead in a nearby apartment building later that night.
It also underscores Bowser’s efforts to prioritize crime reduction in the months leading up to the June mayoral primary because she is up for reelection and faces candidates who have criticized her crime response. One such proposal has been to increase the number of police officers on the streets, with Bowser requesting a $30 million budget to expand the MPD and reach 4,000 sworn officers over the next decade.
“We cannot allow people to terrorize our communities with guns,” Bowser said. “This is about using a whole-of-government approach, but it’s also about focusing our attention and resources on exactly where we know the problem is. Our message is clear — we will continue to offer people in our city a better path forward, but if people choose to engage in violence, then they will be held accountable.”
Councilman Robert White, one of Bowser’s most high-profile challengers, has denounced the idea of simply increasing law enforcement, arguing more should be done to prevent crime rather than react.
“Unfortunately, the mayor’s only answer to crime has been more police,” he told reporters Thursday. “More police is simply not a public safety plan.”
Washington, D.C., has reported a steady rise in crime over the last few years, particularly cases of robbery and violent crime. Violent crime has increased by 26% compared to the same time as last year, and robberies are up 55%, according to data released Monday.
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Addressing this rise in crime has been a priority for both Bowser and White throughout their campaigns, especially because it has become a top concern among district voters over the last few years.
White and Bowser are set to face-off in the Democratic primary on June 21 in an election that typically determines who will win the general election in the deep-blue district. The two will also face Councilman Trayon White and former advisory neighborhood commissioner James Butler.
