The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) will be letting go of 12 senior police officers on April 30 due to a law passed by the Democrat-controlled district in 2022 following the 2020 race riots. This announcement was made by D.C. supervisory public affairs specialist Thomas Lynch.
Since the passing of this legislation in 2022, MPD has already lost more than 1,400 officers, according to the D.C. Police Union. The law, known as the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022, prohibits the appointment of police officers with serious misconduct in their background.
The 12 senior officers had their contracts not renewed due to this law. The D.C. Police Union opposes this legislation, stating that it is the worst piece of public safety legislation ever passed by the D.C. Council. The law defines “serious misconduct” as various actions including unlawful discrimination, unlawful stop/search/seizure, acts of retaliation, and more.
Crime rates in Washington, D.C. rose significantly in 2023, with homicides up by 35 percent, robberies up by 67 percent, violent crime up by 39 percent, and motor vehicle theft up by 82 percent. Residents of the district blame Biden-appointed U.S. attorney Matthew Graves for the increase in crime, as he refused to prosecute a large percentage of those arrested.
Former President Donald Trump has vowed to restore law and order if reelected, criticizing the Democrat-led city for its crime surge. He pledged reforms as part of his reelection platform. Wendell Husebo, a political reporter with Breitbart News, shared this information and highlighted Trump’s stance on crime in D.C.
