“Council Puts Forward $11 Million Investment in Additional Police Officers and Expanded Violence Prevention Programs”

From the Office of Council Member Charles Allen:

“In response to a request for $11 million for additional funding for police officers from Mayor Bowser, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson and Councilmember Charles Allen, Chair of the Council’s Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, are proposing a compromise package of investments, with support from a majority of the Council.

The package was circulated today by Chairman Mendelson in an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) to the budget legislation to be considered at tomorrow’s final vote.

The changes would revise the Executive’s requested $11 million enhancement for sworn police officers to instead reduce gun violence by investing in both traditional law enforcement and public-health based programs.

The proposal would provide the Metropolitan Police Department $5 million in funding for additional sworn officers to reduce overtime pressures and maintain the Department’s hiring pipeline, but it would also double the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement’s (ONSE) Leadership Academies – which provide wrap-around services, mentorship, and restorative practices to high-risk students within District high schools – add an additional $1.9 million for violence interrupters through ONSE, and fund four new Cure the Streets violence interruption sites through the Office of the Attorney General.

Chairman Mendelson said, “Council members support a combination of strategies to reduce violent crime. The solution can’t solely be more police. If you think about it, relying only on police is a reactive strategy. Police respond to incidents of violence. On the other side, violence interrupters are proactive. Interrupters work in the neighborhoods, know the people most likely to beef, and calm tensions before retaliatory shootings can occur.”

“The Council’s proposal here is responsible and responsive. We are ensuring investments in public safety are going directly into communities where gun violence is happening the most,” said Councilmember Allen. “Law enforcement and public health-based approaches are both critical to reducing gun violence. It might be the easiest path, but now’s not the time to fall back on police-only responses when we know a more well-rounded approach will have better immediate and long-term results in stopping the next shooter.”

The D.C. Council will vote on the ANS during the Council’s Legislative Meeting, scheduled to begin at 1 pm.”