Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser conceded that the district had a tough year on crime in 2023, but she remained positive that it is turning a corner.
was optimistic about the district’s future, signaling crime is on its way down following the district’s deadliest year since a surge in the late 1990s.FILE – District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks during a news conference in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. in the district increased by 39%, with a 35% uptick in homicides and 959 carjackings, according to Metropolitan Police Department. The violent surge left 274 people dead in the nation’s capital.
In the early months of 2024, violent crime is down 17% so far, along with a 32% decrease in homicides and a 12% drop in all crime. In addition to the optimistic data, Bowser said her “Don’t be down on D.C.” remark stemmed from a conversation she had with a visitor who was shocked district residents were so “down on themselves” given all the district has to offer.
While it remains to be seen whether the district’s crime statistics represent a projection of the year ahead, Bowser has acknowledged thatBowser also told the outlet that the district’s police officers are arresting fewer people because they are overworked. Last year, the district experienced an all-time low staffing shortage, and in recent years, have lost between 300 to 400 officers, which Bowser said is due to “policies that make it difficult to recruit new officers.
Residents, business owners, and Republican lawmakers may not be as positive as the mayor about the downward trend in violent crime, with many still seeing Democrats as soft on crime. Some residents arethat the summertime will be a true deciding factor in whether the trajectory of early crime statistics is declining for good.
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