News

450 New Police Coming to DC Neighborhoods

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Alan Heymann
(202) 724-8031

Washington, DC – The DC Council has approved 350 new additional police officers for District neighborhoods. Councilmember Jim Graham (D-Ward One) strongly supports this expansion of the police force.

During budget discussions in May, Councilmember Graham successfully led the effort for funding 100 new neighborhood police officers. Yesterday’s Council action means a total of 450 new officers will be hired, trained and headed for the streets.

“I introduced a bill for 500 new officers last year,” said Councilmember Graham, “But there wasn’t support for it among my colleagues. Now we’ve had 13 violent deaths in 12 days in the District, and the need for this has never been clearer. We have the money. It’s high time to add more officers.”

Funding for the new officers will come from the District’s anticipated Fiscal Year 2007 surplus.

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