DC mayor authorizes local, federal coordination beyond Trump emergency
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) signed an order Tuesday authorizing coordination between local police and federal forces extending beyond President Trump’s declared emergency in the nation’s capital.
The top priorities for the joint effort will include homelessness and encampments, beautification, and finance and economic resilience, according to a release from Bowser’s office.
The president and White House communications staff have praised Bowser for her “positive” response to the federal takeover of the district’s law enforcement and the new agreement.
“I’m very proud of Washington,” Trump said after Bowser signed the Tuesday order. “It can be used as a template.”
The measure created the Safe and Beautiful Emergency Operations Center (SBEOC), which is expected to be run by the city and work alongside the president’s Safe and Beautiful Task Force, which was launched in March, to promote public safety.
Agencies involved in the joint operations include the U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, U.S. Park Police, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Capitol Police and the U.S. Secret Service.
Bowser said the SBEOC will handle requests submitted to federal partners which include promoting traditional policing practices such as not wearing masks, clearly identifying their agency and providing identification during arrests and encounters with the public.
During a press conference late last month, the mayor said masked agents created a “break in trust between, police and community, especially with new federal partners.”
Trump’s moves in the district led to a 12-day streak without homicides and a lower rate of violent crime, according to the Trump administration, as hundreds of National Guard soldiers were deployed in the last few weeks to help patrol the city.
The White House has touted the success of local operations and cited it as a reason to expand to other large cities, including Chicago and Baltimore.