The problem is that people looking back 30-40 years ago are using that time frame to dismiss what's happening now. "Oh, it was much worse before. Stop complaining, you transplants have no idea!" And going back that far is irrelevant because the crime is different now: different locations, different times of day, different types of crimes. How do we determine what to do about the crime NOW if we're focused on what was happening decades ago? No one is "pretending" that crime was always as low as it was 10 years ago. But at that time, something was obviously working to keep crime low. What was it? What changed? We can't even be bothered to answer those questions because it's still not as bad as it was in the 80s, right? I've lived here 20 years. Not sure if that qualifies me as a "long term dc resident" in your mind, though. ![]() |
Another murder today. 188 on the year. Glad everyone in Ward 3 is safe and sound and can pretend this isn't happening in their city. |
MPD has long been plagued by issues; however, they were generally effective at curbing crime until 2016. Do not dismiss the effect on the average MPD officer of the “defund the police” movement. MPD officers watched closely as Baltimore arrested police officers (Black police officers) and put them through a criminal trial. Those officers prevailed against Baltimore’s baseless and politically-driven prosecution. They the officers sued the city. And won. MPD officers got the message loud and clear: do not risk your job by arresting criminals. Honestly, please explain to me why any sane MPD officer would bother arresting a dangerous or violent criminal? Risk your job over that? And for what?? On top of that, progressives continually push anti-prosecution prosecutors, who drop every case the police bring. So again, if every one of your arrests is going to simply be dismissed by the prosecutor, why would you take the risk of arresting violent criminals? These situations are seriously what is happening now on the streets of DC. It is not a mystery. And criminals in DC know they will not face serious consequences. DC is a one-party town. That party owns this town, and now they own it’s problems. |
This couldn't be more obvious. Tragically, dead (mostly Black) bodies function as the receipts. |
No one is dismissing anything. Just giving history/perspective from people who’ve been here for a long time. |
So if MPD won’t do their job, maybe they should just be replaced by private security. Not sure why we are paying them if they don’t want to do their job because of hurt feelings. |
5 more shot in SW DC and 1 dead.
It's the wild West in DC. So.Much.Progress. |
Elected leaders have made it clear they do not want police going after criminals. This will continue to get worse until the public demands change. |
I see more of the “defund the police!” crowd has shown up. Next: why don’t you do: “all the prisons and jails should be torn down” schtick as an encore? |
Then private security would be in the same place, afraid of risking their jobs by arresting violent criminals and hesitant to bother because when they do, the case gets dismissed. |
what portion of cases get dismissed because police aren’t credible or otherwise screwed up?
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Ive also been here 21 years. As a single 20 something and now married with kids. The crime has gotten terrible, even as our neighbors and surroundings have gotten richer and fancier. It is hard not to escape the defund movement as a turning point, along with covid and schools closing. (The latter I could see the damage to a whole generation as it was happening, particularly poor kids, and took a small stand to keep schools open only to be called a racist, but I digress.)
It seems like the prosecutors are finally and slowly starting to do their jobs, but it boggles me that people in DC still claim there’s been no jump in crime. (I work at a progressive org where this is dogma). We the party of look at the evidence, data driven decisions— all that goes out the window. Extreme left may not be as bad as extreme right, but it sure is trying hard to be. |
Answer is simple. Arrest people who commit crimes, prosecute criminals, put them in jail for appropriate periods of time and crime will go down. But that is not the progressive way and DC is being run by progressives. Vote correctly and the problem will be solved. Vote as you are now and it will get worse. |
I'm not sure where people are seeing an uptick in crime. These numbers are normal for a city the size of DC.
Be smart and be vigilant, but this is not Fairview, CT, if that's what you're looking for obviously you'll be sorely disappointed. DC is vastly safer than LA, Miami, Chicago, NY, and parts of TX. If you feel you should be able to walk around drunk, half dressed, while wearing expensive attire, the latest phone in hand and without a care in the world to your surroundings, this is not the place for you. You'll need to move elsewhere for that. True city living is about adaptation. |
I really can't tell if someone like this is incapable of reading crime statistics or lying for an agenda. |