The results are in: the installation of several dozen security cameras, draconian curfews and a drastic increase in the number of hours worked by police officers have reduced violent crime in the District. Whew, I’m sure glad we don’t have to worry about crime anymore, right? Is it time to unplug the cameras, let up on the kids, let the police return to their normal five-day work week and watch the crime rise? This attitude is not acceptable, and more police officers are needed immediately to ensure that crime rates continue to fall.
Back in early July, when D.C. was averaging a homicide per day, Mayor Anthony Williams requested and received $11.3 million through an emergency crime bill from the D.C. Council that, after an extension, expired at the beginning of November. According to figures released by the Metropolitan Police Department violent crimes are down more than 19 percent compared with the same period in 2005, and homicides are down 24 percent.
Though these figures are impressive, the impetus behind them disappeared with the expiration of the emergency legislation. Now that fewer police are on the street, there is little reason to believe that the numbers will stay low.
Mayor-Elect Adrian Fenty, the only council member to vote against the emergency measure, claimed that the legislation was a “feel-good” measure masquerading as a solution. But this stop-gap measure, initiated by Fenty’s opponent in the Democratic primary Linda Cropp, has achieved its goal: to stem the tide of crime through the election season. Now that it has expired, however, new legislation is needed to maintain this momentum. The Council must not deceive itself into thinking that the crime problem has been solved.
The first and most important step is to increase the police force. More officers on the street is always the most effective crime deterrent and, unlike cameras, police can actually apprehend criminals. If necessary the Council should request more money from Congress to cover the additional expense. No other measure will suffice.
