Trump D.C. crackdown ‘problematic’ : NPR

The federal agents of application of the law of various agencies, including the FBI, the Park Police and the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Office, question a couple who had been parked in front of a legal parking area while eating the point of view of McDonald’s on August 12 in the northwest of Washington, DC, near Kennedy Street NW. The couple was released after a search of the car.

Jacquelyn Martin / AP

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Jacquelyn Martin / AP

The move of President Trump to take over the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is “very problematic” and could tarnish police relations in the community, warns the retirement of the Capitol police officer Harry Dunn.

Trump announced on Monday that he would use the National Guard and the MPD for at least the next 30 days to target “bloodthirsty criminals, itinerant crowds of wild young people, drug addicts and homeless” in Washington, DC, in his announcement, that the police will be allowed to do “everything they wanted”.

“The whole thing to do” whatever the hell they want “, as he said – it is very problematic for the police,” said Dunn, who presented himself to the Congress as a Democrat last year, said Morning edition. “This gives poor apple coverage to do what they want. And it’s not useful for police relationships in the community.”

Tens of the national guard troops were deployed in Washington, DC on Tuesday, although the crime in the city reached a 30 -year hollow last year, according to data published by the MPD and the US DC lawyer in January.

Dunn served in the American Capitol police – a separate MPD agency – for 15 years and retired in 2023, about two years after helping to protect the Capitol on January 6, 2021, against a violent crowd of supporters of Trump. Dunn says he worked with DC police officers who have not been trained to manage certain situations that require more specialized approaches, such as de -escalation and mental health crises.

In an interview with Michel Martin of NPR, he expressed his concerns concerning the deployment of the National Guard and the DC police officers with brakes to do to do.

The following exchange has been modified for duration and clarity.

Strengths of the interview

Michel Martin: One of the reasons why we have called you is that you, like many other police officers, in particular in the major departments, are trained in several specialties. You were a certified negotiation agent in crisis and intervention in the event of a crisis for the police of the American Capitol. You had to face all kinds of people like dignitaries as well as tourists, people who have just passed. In your estimate, are the national guard troops equipped to patrol in the city where the aspects of work could call discernment, de-escalation, things like that?

Harry Dunn: Well, to answer your just very frankly question: no, this is not the case. And that does not decrease anything to what they are doing or what they are prepared for, what they are capable of. When I was a Capitol police officer for over 15 years, we had police who were not trained in certain things in which I was trained. And they had other programs where they were trained in which I may not have been trained, even if we all had a police training. But this approach that the president adopts, he takes a hammer when he may require a screwdriver to be very precise.

I treated with several homeless people at the Capitol of the United States because it is surrounded by around three shelters from a distance from walking. And, yes, there are not many beds, and many complaints that many homeless people we have spoken, they said they didn’t feel safe in these shelters. It was therefore not only a question of getting off the street. They actually felt safely on the street than in some of these shelters.

Publisher’s note: Dunn did not serve in the National Guard.

The Capitol Capitol Police Sergeant. Harry Dunn listens to the restricted committee of the Chamber investigating the attack on January 6, 2021 on the American Capitol held his last meeting on December 19, 2022.

Jacquelyn Martin / AP

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Jacquelyn Martin / AP

Martin: You were there on January 6, protecting legislators and staff when rioters stormed the American capitol. What comes to mind when you see the president deploying federal troops and officers now when there is not only a riot – in fact, the data indicates that the crime at DC is down?

Dunn: I’m glad you mentioned the data point because the [Home Rule Act] That he invoked – the data, what is happening in the street, does not support this. He should move forward and take credit for crime repression and reduce it to more than 25% compared to the period last year. During a press conference, [FBI Director] Kash Patel said the murder rate was down and tends to its historically low levels, so it doesn’t make sense. If it is down, then why bring the National Guard, which does not make sense?

Publisher’s note: MPD data show that violent crimes have broken down About 26% in Washington compared to that time compared to last year. Overall, crime is down approximately 7%.

Martin: The president suggests that part of what is frustrating is what he described as a lack of respect for the police. And he continued saying that [police officers] Can now “do what they want”. And the reason why I raised this, I ask again: were you there on January 6? Haven’t you experienced part of this? What do you think? The president did not deploy the national guard so – at least he was implored to do so and did not do so for a while.

Dunn: Yeah, we absolutely feel it. It was also very frustrating, when we were there with the other officers waiting for help, waiting for the backup. And not even to enter into the political aspects of this one – he had the capacity to send us help, but he blamed him to the president of the room at the time. But then he just sent the National Guard to a whim here a random Monday when he decides to do. It’s very unhappy.

Martin: What do you mean when you say it gives bad apple blanket to do what they want? What do you mean by that?

Dunn: Well, people have always talked about police misconduct, police mistreatment, police surveillance. And, literally, he removes the reins of them to do what he wants, even if it means violating someone’s rights, raping the rules, [and he] I just throwed the rules book through the window. And it’s not good.

Martin: The chief of the DC police union actually praised this effort. In a press release, [D.C. Police Union Chairman] Gregg Pemberton said the addition of the National Guard forces will be “a critical judgment” to approach what he called “out of control” crime. Why do you think you have such a different vision of things?

Dunn: The National Guard was not trained on how to manage relations with the community. This is what I meant by bringing a hammer when the problem may require a screwdriver. No one denies: “Hey, everyone wants to see reduced crime.” … and, yes, if they drew attention to ensure that this is the final objective, then we are all for that.

The digital article was published by Obed Manuel. The radio version was produced by Milton Guevara and Nia Dumas.