.png)
The DC Police Union chair says that Councilmember Trayon White's arrest shows "deep flaws" in violence interruption programs.
WASHINGTON D.C., DC — The D.C. Police union head wants an end to violence interruption programs in the District, at least until there's a "thorough audit."
In a statement posted on social media Monday, DC Police Union Chairman Gregg Pemberton wrote that the recent arrest of D.C. Councilmember Trayon White, exposed deep flaws in these programs.
"It comes as little surprise that White was one of the principal supporters of funding violence interruption programs in lieu of hiring police officers and strengthening proven public safety measures," Pemberton wrote.
Pemberton wrote that, "in funding violence interruption organizations, the council chose to give millions of taxpayer dollars to shady businesses touting unproven approaches to improving public safety".
Chairman Gregg Pemberton is calling on the district to immediatly stop funding all violence interuption programs until an investigation into their activities is done
Posted by DC Police Union on Monday, September 16, 2024He said that "violence interruption is another failed concept and that fully-funded policing is the primary method to combat crime and improve public safety" and called on the D.C. Council to "admit that".
He wrote that the Metropolitan Police Department is still not fully staffed, with "ranks remaining at nearly a 50-year low". Writing that "if the Council is serious about addressing crime in the District" they should "stop funding unproven, fraudulent programs and fully fund MPD, including measures to bolster recruitment and retention".
He also wrote the following:
Based on the corruption revealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District’s violence interruption program, the D.C. Police Union is calling on the District to take the following actions:
- Immediately cease the funding and operations of all violence interruption programs operating through the D.C. government until a complete and thorough audit and investigation can be conducted of their activities.
- Immediately terminate the contracts of any violence interruption programs that have failed to properly follow all program procedures (including background checks) or that have made any financial contributions to any political officeholder.
- Engage in a comprehensive study to ascertain whether any of the violence interruption programs have produced a measurable level of effectiveness or results, and the costs associated with the results.
- Establish the necessary initiatives and funding to properly staff the Metropolitan Police Department with the appropriate number of sworn officers that has been identified by Mayor Bowser as necessary to reduce violent crime and protect the residents, visitors and businesses in the District.
English (US) ·