News

CM Graham Introduces Bill Calling for 500 Additional Police in Residential Neighborhoods

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 11, 2005

Contact: Alan Heymann
(202) 727-8229

Washington, DC - Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward One) introduced legislation Tuesday calling for 500 new police officers, to be assigned exclusively to residential neighborhoods throughout the District of Columbia.

“We have a record surplus on hand, yet our residents seem to be feeling less safe as they walk down the streets,” said Councilmember Graham. “This is simply wrong. Not even a month ago, a new resident of Mt. Pleasant was shot to death walking his dog. In the past few weeks, I have received email after email and phone call after phone call with a common theme - our constituents don’t feel safe, and they don’t feel the police respond fast enough.”

The bill calls for the hiring, training and equipping of 500 officers from upcoming budget surpluses. Councilmember Adrian Fenty joined in the introduction.

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