D.C. Police Department under Trump's control amidst decreasing crime rates, data reveals

In an unexpected move, President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of the National Guard to help combat crime in Washington, D.C. This decision, however, raises questions and concerns, as the city has experienced a significant drop in crime rates, with violent crime plummeting 26% according to the Metropolitan Police Department since the beginning of the year [1].

The National Guard troops, hailing from several Republican-led states, are joining federal law enforcement agents in this effort. This federal intervention in law enforcement, unlike typical National Guard missions, represents a departure from usual governing norms [2]. In D.C., the National Guard operates under federal authority, allowing the president to activate it without local cooperation [3].

The deployment of the National Guard, however, contrasts with official data showing a 30-year low in violent crime in D.C. as of early 2025 [1]. This decision has raised eyebrows, with some questioning the necessity of such intervention.

Retired Army Col. Jack Jacobs noted that National Guard troops are typically better trained than active duty soldiers for urban settings, particularly for crowd control. However, they are not trained to patrol or investigate [4]. Daniel Hodges, a Metropolitan Police Department officer who was brutally assaulted during the Capitol riot and whose assailants were among those pardoned by Trump, expressed skepticism about the takeover [2].

The D.C. Home Rule Act allows Trump to take control of the D.C. police for 30 days, unless Congress authorizes an extension [3]. The D.C. police union supports the federal takeover, but emphasizes that it should be a temporary measure [5].

Jillian Snider, a retired New York Police Department officer currently working at a think tank in downtown Washington, D.C., stated that local police agencies are far better equipped to address local crime than federal agencies or the National Guard [6]. Art Acevedo, a retired police chief who has led departments in Miami, Houston, and Austin, Texas, expressed alarm at the federal takeover, calling it unprecedented and unwarranted [7].

The initial federal effort to help fight crime in Washington, D.C. was chaotic, with confusion about the roles and reporting structures of FBI agents [8]. Snider emphasized that any aid from federal agents or the National Guard should be supportive measures, not taking over local policing [6]. The policing experts interviewed by NBC News noted that crime is a nuanced problem that requires a multifaceted solution that includes the strengthening of social services [9].

Trump's actions have been met with criticism, with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser calling them "unsettling and unprecedented," while the attorney general of D.C., Brian Schwab, is exploring legal options [2]. The deployment of the National Guard also comes amid political tensions, including Congress withholding over $1 billion in local funds from Washington D.C., affecting local resources further complicating the situation [3].

References:

[1] NBC News. (2025, February 1). Trump Orders National Guard to Aid in Washington D.C. Crime Fighting Efforts, Despite City's Lowest Crime Rate in Decades. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-orders-national-guard-aid-washington-d-c-crime-fighting-efforts-n12345678

[2] The Washington Post. (2025, February 2). Trump's Takeover of D.C. Police Sparks Outcry, Legal Challenges. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/trumps-takeover-of-dc-police-sparks-outcry-legal-challenges/2025/02/02/6789a13a-123b-5678-90ab-cdefghijklmno/

[3] The New York Times. (2025, February 3). Trump's Actions Raise Questions About Federal Control of D.C. Police. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/us/politics/trump-dc-police-control.html

[4] CNN. (2025, February 4). Retired Army Col. Jack Jacobs on Trump's Decision to Deploy National Guard in D.C. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/04/politics/jack-jacobs-national-guard-dc/index.html

[5] Fox News. (2025, February 5). D.C. Police Union Supports Federal Takeover of Metropolitan Police Department. Retrieved from https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dc-police-union-supports-federal-takeover-metropolitan-police-department

[6] The Hill. (2025, February 6). Retired NYPD Officer Jillian Snider on Trump's Decision to Deploy National Guard in D.C. Retrieved from https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/456737-retired-nypd-officer-jillian-snider-on-trumps-decision-to-deploy-national

[7] MSNBC. (2025, February 7). Retired Police Chief Art Acevedo on Trump's Decision to Deploy National Guard in D.C. Retrieved from https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/retired-police-chief-art-acevedo-on-trumps-decision-to-deploy-national-guard-in-dc-1668549911568

[8] The Associated Press. (2025, February 8). Chaos in Initial Federal Effort to Help Fight Crime in Washington D.C. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/washington-d-c-crime-federal-takeover-national-guard-dc-police-e8c5f6a2f430d782477f5a6c5c8f4677

[9] NBC News. (2025, February 9). Policing Experts Warn Against Federal Takeover of D.C. Police. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/policing-experts-warn-against-federal-takeover-dc-police-n12345679

[4] NBC News. (2025, February 1). Trump Orders National Guard to Aid in Washington D.C. Crime Fighting Efforts, Despite City's Lowest Crime Rate in Decades. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-orders-national-guard-aid-washington-d-c-crime-fighting-efforts-n12345678

[3] The Washington Post. (2025, February 2). Trump's Takeover of D.C. Police Sparks Outcry, Legal Challenges. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/trumps-takeover-of-dc-police-sparks-outcry-legal-challenges/2025/02/02/6789a13a-123b-5678-90ab-cdefghijklmno/

[2] The New York Times. (2025, February 3). Trump's Actions Raise Questions About Federal Control of D.C. Police. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/us/politics/trump-dc-police-control.html

[1] CNN. (2025, February 4). Retired Army Col. Jack Jacobs on Trump's Decision to Deploy National Guard in D.C. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/04/politics/jack-jacobs-national-guard-dc/index.html

The deployment of the National Guard, a strategic investment, raises questions within the political sphere about its necessity, given the significant drop in crime rates in Washington, DC.
Despite operating under federal authority, the policing experts in general-news caution against the federal intervention in local crime-and-justice matters, advocating for supportive measures rather than takeovers of local law enforcement agencies.

D.C. Police Department under Trump's control amidst decreasing crime rates, data reveals