President Donald Trump has ramped up the involvement of federal law enforcement in response to rising crime in Washington, D.C., just days after a former government official was severely beaten in the city.
According to White House representatives, this increased enforcement began on Thursday as part of the president’s initiative to create a “DC Safe and Beautiful Task Force.” The task force focuses on a week-long project where “federal officers will be easily identifiable in marked units,” an official stated.
“Washington, DC is a fantastic city, but it has suffered from violent crime for far too long. President Trump has directed the bolstering of federal law enforcement to keep innocent citizens safe,” they added.
This uptick in law enforcement began late Thursday night, involving at least 15 different agencies as part of this task force. Agencies involved include the Metro Transit Police, the Amtrak Police, and the U.S. Capitol Police, among others. Reports reveal that Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI are also part of this effort.
Over the weekend, Edward Colistine, a former official known online as “Big Ball,” was viciously attacked in D.C. after he tried to intervene during a carjacking attempt, according to a police report obtained by a news outlet.
Colistine observed the suspect approaching and demanding the vehicle from the victim. Acting quickly, he pushed the victim into the car, positioning himself against the suspect. Following the assault, around ten suspects fled the scene on foot.
Trump addressed the situation on Wednesday, expressing his intention to involve the National Guard to combat crime in the capital. He remarked, “Yeah, crime has gotten out of hand, and we’re looking into it. You can actually compare charts of D.C. to other locations. We want our capital to be safe and inviting, which also means cleanliness and other aspects.”
Crime in D.C. has garnered media attention recently. For instance, on July 3, Eric Tarpinian Yachym, an intern for Republican Rep. Ron Estes, was tragically murdered in a shooting incident near a metro station. This was followed by the shooting of two Israeli embassy staff members near the Jewish Museum in late May. Pamela A. Smith of the Metropolitan Police identified a 30-year-old suspect, Elias Rodriguez from Chicago, in connection with the shooting, stating he proclaimed “free Palestine” while in custody.
