News

New Police for Neighborhoods

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Alan Heymann
(202) 724-8031

May 9, 2006

Washington, DC – The District of Columbia will hire 100 new police officers in the next year, under a $7-million proposal Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward One) pressed during today’s budget discussions. Today, the Council gave its final approval as part of the FY 2007 budget action.

“The Council agreed that we need more police presence,” said Councilmember Graham. “We need to strengthen what is too often a thin blue line of police protection for our neighborhoods. I know 100 aren’t enough, and that we need more. But we are told that MPD can only add this number in a single year due to capacity issues. Even this number will make a real difference.”

Councilmember Adrian Fenty (D-Ward Four) joined Councilmember Graham earlier this year in introducing B16-459, calling for 500 new officers.

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