Trump is justified in taking over DC policing due to rampant violence. The DC Police are unable to handle crime in the American capital. Nevertheless, Democrats are calling Trump a “dictator” for taking over policing in Washington, DC. Why is it that Democrats and the legacy media must reflexively attack Trump for anything he does?
Demonstrations against Trump, stuffed with newly fired bureaucrats, have popped up in DC. Why do Democrats defend violent thugs? Trust the Democrats to adopt the unpopular side of any divisive issue. Trump derangement syndrome! Not a winning strategy.
Democrats reject Trump’s allegations that violent crime is out of control by pointing to DC Police statistics that show violent crime has gone down. Unfortunately for Democrats, the facts don’t back them up.
Violent crime is out of control
Based upon Metropolitan Police statistics, violent crime has decreased, which are repeated by the FBI in their crime reporting. But, according to the DC Police Union, these crime statistics have been falsified by a District Police commander. Court records show that department leadership directed subordinates to file theft and violent crimes as lower-level offenses.
Washington, DC Crime stats have long been considered fraudulent. Trump’s contention that crime in DC is out of control is bolstered by the Centers for Disease Control’s homicide data. CDC statistics show homicides in the District of Columbia have jumped from 144 to 244 in the past 5 years.
Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control are much more respected than FBI reports. Homicide statistics are compiled by the CDC from death certificate data from the National Center for Health Statistics, not from police reports, as are the FBI crime data. Police statistics have serious flaws that all too often render them inaccurate and misleading.
Homicide is the most reliable measure of violent crime. Other violent crimes rely upon subjective decision making. Politics and police department policy can subtly shape police procedures, arrests, and statistics. Not so with homicide. Each death must be recognized and recorded.
Trump is justified
Trump’s critics claim Trump is acting like a dictator by taking over the police. Trump is hardly that. Trump is legally exercising his presidential power to invoke Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act (1973) which, when necessary, allows the President to take control of the police in the District for 30 days. The U.S. Constitution established the District of Columbia in Article I, Section 8, clause 17, which allows Congress to create a federal district to serve as the nation’s capital and grants Congress exclusive legislative authority over the district. Section 740 authorizes the President to act directly in cases of emergency.
Trump derangement syndrome
Trump derangement syndrome drives Trump’s opponents to embarrass themselves. Since the public has lost respect for the legacy media, Democrats are finding it harder to deceive the public. Alternative information sources are easy to find. Defending violent thugs is not a wise strategy. Nor is it popular.
The public knows that violent crime has exploded in the past 5 years. Calling Trump names will not substitute for serious criticism. Democrats are just branding themselves as irresponsible.
