Bloodthirsty criminals. Rampant crime. Roving gangs of teenage thugs. Ruthless murderers. This is just a sample of the fearmongering coming from the White House about Washington, D.C. While some in the news media are calling this what it is — completely false and obvious diversionary tactics — I want to point out something that’s been missing in the debate about National Guard troops: Washington is probably the most policed city in the world, as anyone who has lived or visited there can attest.
There’s the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia; the Metro Transit Police Department; the U.S. Capitol Police; U.S. Park Police; the Secret Service; and the Metro Special Police Department. The FBI is headquartered in D.C., and the CIA and Drug Enforcement Administration nearby. In addition, there’s private armed security at some locations such as embassies. While no city is crime-free, it’s difficult to walk two blocks anywhere in D.C. and not see a police presence.
In the meantime, National Guard troops with jobs and families at home are being deployed to bring jaywalkers and cellphone-using drivers to justice.
Steven Haynes, Arlington
