DEA Head Meets with DC Police Chief to Tackle Crime
Terry Cole, the new head of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the recently appointed superintendent of the DC police, held a meeting with the police chief on Tuesday. They discussed the Trump administration’s coordinated efforts aimed at reducing violent crime in Washington, D.C.
“I can’t close my eyes,” Cole expressed during an interview. “We’re seeing remarkable cooperation and exceptionally good intelligence sharing, which is very encouraging. The police are eager to resume effective collaborations.”
On Monday, President Donald Trump authorized federal agencies and the National Guard to oversee local law enforcement in the capital, although no arrests were made directly by the federal authorities.
Later that night, around 850 National Guard members were deployed to patrol the streets of D.C.
Cole highlighted recent actions taken under Trump’s directive, referring to it as a “liberation day.” “In the last two days, we’ve made 60 arrests that have been quite surprising. We’ve also seized 17 firearms from the streets. Just last night, we apprehended someone accused of attempted murder,” he reported.
Officials from the DEA clarified their operational cooperation with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
“Starting tonight, we’ll be embedded in the Metropolitan Police Department,” Cole stated. “We also plan to increase patrols in specific areas to target violent offenders who contribute to these crimes.”
Democrats have cited data indicating that violent crime rates in Washington, D.C., are at a “thirty-year low,” despite Cole’s assertion that he does not feel safe and that police can only do so much.
Cole noted that it is “frustrating” to see young offenders with firearms repeatedly released back on the streets.
The Trump administration is looking to “change the code” to hold young offenders accountable, and Cole expressed his enthusiasm for federal agents’ involvement in assisting local law enforcement in D.C.
“There are several dynamics that concern the DC City Council,” he remarked. “I’ve received calls from federal agents across the country wanting to come and help. They want to make D.C. safe again.”
