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Washington DC mayor backs police chief after union's no-confidence vote Washington DC mayor backs police chief after union's no-confidence vote
(35 minutes later)
Washington mayor Muriel Bowser vowed support for the US capital’s police chief on Monday after a police union voted that it had no confidence in her amid a sharp upturn in killings. Washington’s mayor, Muriel Bowser, vowed support for the US capital’s police chief on Monday after a police union voted that it had no confidence in her amid a sharp upturn in killings.
Police chief Cathy Lanier and Bowser have come under increasing public pressure as killings have surged this summer. The District of Columbia has notched 105 homicides this year, the same number as in all of 2014.Police chief Cathy Lanier and Bowser have come under increasing public pressure as killings have surged this summer. The District of Columbia has notched 105 homicides this year, the same number as in all of 2014.
Bowser voiced her support for Lanier in a one-sentence statement after the city’s Fraternal Order of Police said 97.5% of officers who had participated in an online poll had no confidence in her leadership.Bowser voiced her support for Lanier in a one-sentence statement after the city’s Fraternal Order of Police said 97.5% of officers who had participated in an online poll had no confidence in her leadership.
“After 25 years of policing DC streets, deploying officers and strategies, and building a force of highly qualified officers and leaders, in the good times and the tough times, too, I have every confidence in chief Lanier,” Bowser said.“After 25 years of policing DC streets, deploying officers and strategies, and building a force of highly qualified officers and leaders, in the good times and the tough times, too, I have every confidence in chief Lanier,” Bowser said.
Washington is among a number of big US cities seeing an upturn in violent crime. Nationally, crime rates hit half-century lows in 2013 after falling since the 1990s.Washington is among a number of big US cities seeing an upturn in violent crime. Nationally, crime rates hit half-century lows in 2013 after falling since the 1990s.
Lanier and Bowser, a Democrat, have blamed the rise in crime in Washington on illegal guns in the wrong hands, greater use of synthetic drugs, and repeat violent offenders on the streets.Lanier and Bowser, a Democrat, have blamed the rise in crime in Washington on illegal guns in the wrong hands, greater use of synthetic drugs, and repeat violent offenders on the streets.
In a statement on the online poll, the police union said officers were fed up by issues that included lack of manpower, inadequate pay increases and “an inability to fundamentally keep our neighborhoods, our citizens and our officers safe”. In a statement on the online poll, the police union said officers were fed up with issues that included lack of manpower, inadequate pay increases and “an inability to fundamentally keep our neighborhoods, our citizens and our officers safe”.
Less than a third of the union’s more than 3,600 members took part in the survey.Less than a third of the union’s more than 3,600 members took part in the survey.
Bowser outlined a $15m program last week to combat the crime wave. Hundreds of officers were ordered onto streets at the weekend in the city of about 660,000 people. Bowser outlined a $15m program last week to combat the crime wave. Hundreds of officers were ordered on to streets at the weekend in the city of about 660,000 people.
The District of Columbia has also sharply increased rewards for seized illegal guns.The District of Columbia has also sharply increased rewards for seized illegal guns.
Big-city US police chiefs who met in Washington earlier in August to discuss rising crime said homicides in 35 cities were up 19% on average this year.Big-city US police chiefs who met in Washington earlier in August to discuss rising crime said homicides in 35 cities were up 19% on average this year.