Washington, D.C
Access to illegal guns driving up first-time youth crime for firearm related offenses in DC: chief
DC Police Chief Robert Contee talks staying protected within the District
DC Police Chief Robert Contee joins FOX 5 to speak about staying protected within the District and what police are doing to guard residents.
WASHINGTON – D.C. Police Chief Robert Contee says that the variety of youth launched into the prison justice system with firearm crimes as a primary offense goes up, and that entry to unlawful weapons is in charge.
“Of the younger folks that we have arrested final yr – a variety of them – their first offense, their first introduction into the prison justice system, has been a firearm associated offense,” Contee informed FOX 5 Thursday.
“That may be a very staggering factor,” he mentioned. “Whereas we have now arrested much less younger folks over the previous couple of years, the numbers which can be launched into the prison justice system with firearms as a primary offense. That quantity goes up.”
Contee mentioned the division repeatedly works to take away unlawful weapons from the streets of the nation’s capital. “We’ve to make it possible for – as a metropolis – we’re doing every little thing that we probably can to make it possible for unlawful weapons are eliminated off the road. I can guarantee you, the Metropolitan Police Division is doing that.”
In 2022, he mentioned over 3,000 unlawful firearms have been confiscated – over 800 greater than the earlier yr.
Along with entry to unlawful weapons – youth accountability points additionally issue into the rising numbers, he mentioned.
“We’ve a variety of unbelievable, wonderful, clever younger folks in our metropolis which can be doing very, very, very properly. However we even have a pocket of younger folks that aren’t doing so properly,” he mentioned. He added that town wants to make sure that alternatives are given to its youth inhabitants on the similar time they’re being held accountable for their actions. He spoke concerning the points a day after a 15-year-old was charged with homicide in a triple taking pictures that left a girl useless within the southeast.
Contee says he helps D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s place on the controversial prison code overhaul. Earlier this week, the D.C. Council accepted the large overhaul of the District’s prison code in a 12-1 vote, overriding Bowser’s veto.
“I’ve been very public about my objection to a number of issues throughout the prison code reform,” he mentioned. “Whereas there are a number of issues in that that look good – reforms that must happen – there are additionally issues in there that aren’t good when it comes to the accountability – guaranteeing that we have now accountability when violent crimes occur in our metropolis.
He mentioned he’ll proceed to foyer metropolis council and the group relating to crime code reform. “I do not consider depart that every one hope is misplaced, and hopefully over the course of time folks will perceive that adjustments must be made.”
“There are actually legal guidelines in place that will probably be in place because of this, however i am hopeful that individuals will see the error of a few of these methods and can mirror on this and make the adjustments which can be wanted.”
Including to the problem of policing town – an insufficient variety of officers.
“Proper now we’re at a critical poor when it comes to the variety of officers we have now,” Contee mentioned. At present, Contee mentioned town has 3,483 officers – down over 300 since he grew to become chief in 2021.
Incentives, like a $20,000 signing bonus, are being provided to attempt to enhance these numbers.