Washington, DC, Mayor Advocates for More Police Amid Federal Oversight

Mayor Muriel Bowser of Washington, DC, is emphasizing the need for “hundreds more police” as the federal oversight of the city’s Metropolitan Police Department is nearing completion. This announcement comes as Bowser detailed a new labor agreement with the DC Brothers Order of Police on Wednesday.

During her address, she highlighted, “As mayor, my priority has been to hire top talent over the last decade, ensuring we have the officers necessary to keep DC safe. I’ve always envisioned reaching a target of 4,000 officers.” She mentioned that this year, they have onboarded 135 new staff members and welcomed 124 cadets into training. Currently, the police force consists of 3,188 sworn officers, and the mayor noted the importance of hiring many more.

Bowers remarked that the new contract, effective October 1st of this year, will bring raises for officers and sergeants.

Federal Control Initiated Due to Safety Concerns

In early August, President Trump declared a public safety emergency for the city, placing the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control as outlined in section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rules Act. Bowser noted that this emergency declaration expires on September 10th.

On Tuesday, her office issued an order stating that, “I continue to work on the district’s response to the safe and beautiful task force established by the President.” The task force is intended to enhance safety and coordination with federal law enforcement agencies during the emergency.

Bowser Acknowledges Improvement in Crime Rates

The order also indicated that since the emergency began on August 11, 2025, there has been a notable drop in violent crime in the district, attributed to the collaborative efforts between local and federal officials.

“Let me be clear: the mayor’s order does not extend the Trump emergency, but rather works in the opposite direction,” Bowser stated. She further explained that only Congress can legally extend the emergency, highlighting a framework for requesting federal resources without needing a presidential emergency.

Bowser’s comments come alongside reports from Attorney General Pam Bondy, who noted that 92 arrests and the seizure of 27 illegal firearms occurred in Washington, DC, the previous night.

She mentioned that among those arrests were two suspects linked to murder and five related to assaults on law enforcement.