Dear Mr. Chairman and Representative Garcia,
I am writing on behalf of the members of the Fraternal Order of Police to advise you of our support for several bills that the Committee will be marking up today. These pieces of legislation are all aimed at
enhancing public safety and strengthening law enforcement in the District of Columbia. These bills address longstanding concerns about criminal justice reforms that have undermined the ability of law enforcement officers to protect our communities effectively. We believe these measures will help restore accountability, deter crime, and ensure safer streets for residents, visitors, workers in our nation’s capital.
The FOP is proud to offer our support for the following bills:
- R. 4922, the “D.C. Criminal Reforms to Immediately Make Everyone Safer (DC CRIMES) Act,” which would redefine the youthful offender age from 24 to 18 to ensure that young adults who commit serious crimes are held accountable as adults, aligning D.C. policies more closely with those in other jurisdictions and promoting greater deterrence against violent offenses.
- R. 5107, the “Common-Sense Law Enforcement and Accountability Now in DC (CLEAN DC) Act,” which would repeal the entirety of D.C.’s Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022. This legislation goes beyond just the restoration of the collective bargaining provisions and would also eliminate restrictive measures that have hampered the ability of the officers serving the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to do their jobs and allow them to perform their duties more effectively while maintaining essential protections. This measure is of particular importance to the FOP’s D.C. Police Union, which represents the officers of the MPD.
- R. 5140, which would lower the age at which a minor can be charged as an adult from 16 to 14 for certain serious crimes. This adjustment recognizes the severity of offenses committed by younger individuals in some cases and provides prosecutors with necessary tools to address rising juvenile violence.
- R. 5143, the “District of Columbia Policing Protection Act,” which would grant officers and their supervisors greater discretion when deciding whether or not to engage in vehicular pursuits. This flexibility is essential for apprehending dangerous suspects safely and efficiently, reducing the risks posed by fleeing criminals to the public.
- R. 5172, the “Strong Sentences for Safer D.C. Streets Act,” which would increase the mandatory minimum sentences for serious crimes committed in D.C. Stronger penalties will serve as a powerful deterrent, ensuring that repeat offenders and those committing violent acts face appropriate consequences to protect our communities.
- R. 5214, the “District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act,” which requires pre- and post-conviction detention for crimes of violence and dangerous offenders, and mandates cash bail for certain offenses. These reforms will help prevent dangerous individuals from being released back into the community prematurely, thereby enhancing public safety and reducing recidivism.
The Fraternal Order of Police has long advocated for policies that support our members in their mission to serve and protect. These bills represent common-sense reforms that will address the challenges faced by law enforcement in the nation’s capital, where crime rates have been a persistent concern. We urge the Committee to advance these measures expeditiously to the House floor for further consideration.
On behalf of the 382,000 members of the FOP, we thank you for considering our views on these bills and look forward to working with Members of the committee to advance them to the floor. If we can provide any additional information or examples about these pieces of legislation, please do not hesitate to contact me or Executive Director Jim Pasco in our Washington, D.C. office.
Sincerely,
Patrick Yoes
National President