WASHINGTON, D.C. (7News) — It has been 100 days since President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard and the U.S. Marshals in Washington, D.C. to crack down on crime. The Trump Administration says the nation’s Capital city is safer than before the operation started.
“I think this operation is a continued success,” U.S. Marshals Director Gadyaces Serralta told 7News Reporter Nick Minock. “Six thousand, one hundred twenty-seven arrests. 600 guns, illegal guns taken from folks who shouldn’t have guns.”
The U.S. Marshal’s Service was made the lead agency by Trump to coordinate the administration’s crime crackdown in Washington, D.C.
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“Murders are down 60% to the same time last year, robberies are down 50% carjackings are down a whopping 70%,” Serralta said.
“What was the secret sauce?” Minock asked. “How did you make D.C. safer?”
“First of all, the chef is President Donald Trump, who put together 31 different agencies,” Serralta said. “He made the United States Marshals Service the lead agency in coordinating. However, the work is done by all 31 agencies to include the Metropolitan Police Department. So, the secret there is unhandcuffing the law enforcement officers and let them do their work. Let them enforce the laws that are in the books.”
Serralta added that a “murder subject is brought to justice quicker because the feds are working hand in hand with the locals.”
Going forward, the director said judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys need to do their part to make sure that the justice system processes these individuals. He also said DC’s cashless bail law needs to go.
“Are people walking free? They get arrested, and then are they walking free?” Minock asked.
“Yes, absolutely. They’re still walking free until we pass these policies,” Serralta said. “They’re going to continue with no cash bail. I mean, these are serious issues we need to do something about.”
He’s also concerned that many juveniles are still getting a slap on the wrist after being arrested for crimes like carjackings.
“Juveniles are heavily involved in carjackings, juveniles are involved also in homicides and shootings and stabbings, but it’s not just juveniles,” Serralta said. “Juveniles are the ones that are not getting any of the punishment right. The issue is that they’re being treated differently with kid gloves. There are no rules for them.”
That’s not all he said needs to change.
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“The chase policies are something that has to change permanently, not just for violent felonies,” Serralta said. “We should be able to chase juveniles. That’s a big one. Right now, juveniles can well get away with murder.”
And while Serralta said changing these laws would make D.C. safer, he was surprised to learn about how big the police shortage is at MPD.
On Friday, the D.C. Police Union told 7News that MPD is short 820 police officers. Serralta said an officer shortage that big also impacts crime.
Serralta pointed to legislation making its way through the U.S. Congress.
In September, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the CRIMES Act which would lower the age of criminal defendants in D.C. who are eligible for reduced sentences from 24 to 18. The D.C. law that allows defendants up to 24 to be sentenced to less than the mandatory minimum for many crimes is called the Youth Rehabilitation Amendment Act.
The other bill the House passed in September lowers the age at which juveniles can potentially be tried as adults in D.C. to 14. Currently, juveniles 16 and up can be tried as adults for some violent crimes, and 15-year-olds can be tried as adults, but only with certain restrictions, including that “there are no reasonable prospects for the individual’s rehabilitation.”
The U.S. Senate still has not voted on the CRIMES Act, which stands for D.C. Criminal Reforms to Immediately Make Everyone Safe Act
