DC Police Union chairman criticizes councilman’s request for National Guard in response to increasing crime.
Washington, D.C. Police Union Chairman Slams Councilman’s National Guard Proposal
The Chairman of the Washington, D.C. Police Union, Greggory Pemberton, has strongly criticized Councilman Trayon White’s suggestion to bring in the National Guard in response to the recent surge in violent crime. Pemberton described White’s proposal as “ridiculous” during an interview with WMAL.
“It really is ridiculous to hear what this gentleman is saying,” Pemberton said.
Pemberton went on to criticize White and the city council for their previous efforts to demilitarize the police department, only to now advocate for the use of “humvees and camouflage” and “rifles on corners,” which he deemed as “pretty preposterous.”
The union chairman clarified that the National Guard’s role is primarily focused on handling civil unrest, major events, and inaugurations. While they do have arrest authority, it is limited to situations involving civil disturbances.
“They are not equipped to go out and investigate shootings and homicides. They are not detectives. They don’t know how to secure a crime scene. They don’t know how to do any of the work that we do,” Pemberton emphasized.
Councilman White had held a news conference in southeast Washington, near the site where three people were fatally shot and two others were injured in his district over the weekend. During the conference, White expressed his concern over the escalating crime rates and called for urgent action, including the potential deployment of the National Guard to protect innocent lives.
“The crime is out of control and getting worse by the day. We must declare an emergency regarding the crime and violence in our neighborhoods and act urgently. It may be time to call on the National Guard to protect the children and innocent people that are losing their lives to this senselessness,” White stated.
“I am tired of burying our children. We are too comfortable with the state of our city. We must take action to gain control and protect our residents. Law enforcement is only one part of how we combat public safety issues. It will take all of us to heal our community.”
Pemberton firmly disagreed with White’s proposal, stating that the National Guard is not meant to investigate violent crimes. Instead, he argued that White’s request essentially boils down to a need for more police officers.
The D.C. Police Union also placed blame on the city council’s emergency police reforms, which they claim have made working conditions for police officers “miserable” and contributed to staffing shortages and increased violence. Pemberton also criticized the U.S. District Attorney’s Office for releasing two-thirds of its arrests without filing charges.
“If there is no consequence for engaging in this kind of behavior of armed carjackings, shootings, stabbings, and even rapes, people will continue to commit these crimes,” Pemberton warned.
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