WASHINGTON — More officers with the Metropolitan Police Department are patrolling and stationed in D.C. neighborhoods where violence persists at an alarming rate.
Those officers are part of a new mission called, “Operation Thrive.”
D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith quietly launched this new beat at the beginning of the year. "We typically would've called that our summer crime initiative. I thought it was really important that we don't wait until the summer time to address crime,” Chief Smith told WUSA9’s Lorenzo Hall.
WUSA9 learned of "Operation Thrive" in February when officers shot and injured a man in Anacostia.
Investigators say officers on patrol were part of this anti-homicide unit and tried to stop the suspect, who pointed a gun at police.
For the first quarter of the year, between Jan. 1 and March 31, violent and property crimes were down in the District. “I think we’re moving in the right direction, we’re doing the things I’ve tasked the officials and the officers to do,” said Chief Smith. “We still have some way to go,” she added.
This downward trend follows 2023, the District’s deadliest year in more than two decades.
When asked about her response to those who still don’t feel safe in D.C., Chief Smith said, "I'll say this, and I don't mean anything by this, but crime happens right? It's going to happen and we have to be intentional about making sure that we have the right officers and resources in the right place to ensure that we continue to drive down crime."
When addressing those who are victims of crime, the chief said, “clearly, it bothers me probably more than anyone in this space.”
Chief Smith said, she feels safe in the District and pointed to recent changes after D.C. leaders passed emergency crime legislation last summer and "Secure DC," in March. Aside from changing laws and policies, the chief said her officers feel supported. "Some of those legislations and laws that were in place that we felt went too far to the left, they're being right-sized now.”
Chief Smith specifically noted clarity in language around the use of neck restraints by her officers. "I stand on the fact that there is a ban on chokeholds, but to have incidental contacts and officers being charged with serious use of force really put our officers in a very critical situation when they were in the context of trying to gain compliance of a suspect or subject."
D.C. police officers have also been making more arrests.
According to city data, for the first two months of 2024, hundreds more people were taken into custody compared to the same period in years prior.
For instance, 446 people were arrested this year for gun possession offenses and just 289 last year. There’s also a dramatic difference when analyzing arrests for violent offenses. Data show 416 people were arrested between Jan. 1 and Feb. 29 of this year. Last year, that number was 188.
More of those facing charges are also being held in jail, because of legislation making it easier for judges to detain people charged with serious crimes.
The number of people being held at DC Department of Correction Facilities is at its highest since March of 2020, before the pandemic lockdown.
"You have individuals who have used some type of weapon, whether it's a knife, whether it's a gun, they've traumatized folks. If we have the opportunity to arrest those individuals and remove them from their community, with the hope of rehabilitation, we will continue to do that,” Chief Smith stated.
The chief stressed, their efforts are not about making arrests. She said her team is assessing the District's crime trends everyday so they can move critical resources to communities in need.
"There is the criminal aspect of it that's taken place, but people need services. Our people need mental health services, they need behavioral health services and I think having all of us together in that same space being able to provide the service for our community is going to be helpful in the long run."
Crime involving children is another issue the chief is trying to tackle. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Chief Smith introduced legislation called the UPLIFT Act this week, which takes aim at juvenile crime. The legislation would ban diversion programs for juveniles charged with violent crimes and limit plea deals.
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