Washington, D.C. (May 3, 2021) – In an effort to combat a rising homicide rate in the District of Columbia, Mayor Muriel Bowser today launched her Safer Stronger DC Summer Crime Prevention Initiative (SCI). The plan targets certain areas of the city with strategic prevention and coordinated enforcement efforts.
DC has seen nearly a 40 percent increase in its homicide rate so far this year compared with last year. There were eight shootings across the city just yesterday.
Every year for nearly eleven years, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has identified areas of the city that have experienced a high density of violence and utilized all available resources, including collaborative outreach, to prevent violent crime in those focus areas during the summer months, running from May 1–August 31.
“We bring the Summer Crime Prevention Initiative back each year because the data shows us that it drives down crime in the neighborhoods we target,” said Mayor Bowser.
Through focused prevention and strategic enforcement and with the support of agency partners, SCI aims to:
- reduce violent crime;
- remove illegal guns from our streets;
- hold repeat violent offenders accountable;
- utilize the latest crime-fighting technology;
- collaborate with partner agencies and organizations for additional assistance; and
- implement innovative outreach for all community members.
Last year, compared to the previous summer, the 2020 target areas saw a 46 percent decrease in theft, a 29 percent decrease in burglaries, and 25 percent decrease in overall crime.
“Our number one goal with the SCI has not changed – and that is to reduce violent crimes in the areas of the city that have traditionally been hit the hardest, while building positive relationships with those in the community,” said Acting Chief Robert Contee. “MPD is laser focused on providing these targeted areas with all the available resources and utilizing evidence-based and intelligence driven strategies to combat crime, while partnering with other law enforcement agencies, community organizations and advocates with a collective goal to reduce crime.”
The 2021 summer focus areas include: Potomac Gardens, Rosedale/Langston Carver, Greenway/Fort Dupont, Marshall Heights/Benning Ridge, Washington Highlands, and Douglas/Shipley.
After the announcement, Acting Chief Contee led a kickball game with MPD officers and community members. MPD also provided athletic equipment on site to youth as part of a recent initiative to build stronger relationships with the community.
