WASHINGTON — D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is campaigning for her anti-crime legislative package dubbed “Safer, Stronger D.C.,” asking city council members to take action as soon as possible.
Bowser first unveiled the public safety plan in August. It calls for more police officers on the streets, among other things.
“There hasn’t, as far as I know, been any robust discussion among the council,” Bowser said Monday morning.
There is a renewed focus on public safety in the District after the city saw a 54 percent increase in the number of homicides in 2015.
Bowser claims her legislation would give law enforcement additional tools to fight crime by directing more resources to the Department of Forensic Sciences, which investigates evidence from crime scenes.
Under the measure, D.C. police officers who are retiring would be allowed to work as civilians with the department without any impact to their retirement benefits. Forensic sciences officials say the move would save time and money on employee training.
“Good detective work requires time and resources, but it also requires experience,” Bowser said. “We’re going to need the council’s support in giving us the authority to do that.”
Should council members be reluctant to take up her entire legislative package, Bowser signaled she would be willing to consider advancing individual pieces of her proposal.
“We think that other elements of the bill are that important,” she said.
