Mayor Bowser pledges to reduce crime after Cuellar carjacking and cites ‘positive trends’

Mayor Bowser pledges to reduce crime after Cuellar carjacking and cites ‘positive trends’

October 03, 2023 03:51 PM

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser responded to news of Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) being carjacked by three armed attackers near the Capitol on Monday evening by restating her commitment to reducing crime in the district and pointing to some positive trends among crime statistics.

“There is no higher priority than the safety of our residents and those who work in and visit D.C.,” a statement from Bowser, a Democrat, read. “We are using every tool available to reduce crime and support those tasked with enforcing the law and holding those accountable who break it. Although we are seeing some positive trends in recent crime statistics, we are troubled when any individual is in a situation that makes them feel unsafe in our city.”

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Data released in January showed a roughly 10% drop in homicides, a 7% drop in violent crime, and a 3% decrease in property crimes in 2022. However, most of those numbers are up exponentially this year, and the district is on track to have the most homicides in two decades.

Carjackings have surged by nearly 250% in the last five years in the nation’s capital. There were 148 carjackings in 2018, and that number jumped to 485 in 2022, according to data from police. That number has more than doubled as of Tuesday; district police have reported 753 carjackings, and 75% involved guns.

Police investigated six shootings that took place overnight Saturday and into Sunday morning. One woman was shot and killed in the district, and there were multiple incidents all occurring within 24 hours. There are currently three emergency crime and public safety bills that are in effect in the city. They were approved by the D.C. Council earlier this summer, but the bills are set to expire on Oct. 18.

On Monday, before Cuellar was carjacked, Bowser said temporary legislation is in place that will keep the emergency bills active until next summer, according to ABC7. One bill makes it easier for judges to detain children and adults accused of violent crimes before trial, another expands police’s engagement in car chases, and the final bill aims to improve the 911 system by requiring the center to publicly report missed calls, dropped calls, or other issues.

Bowser praised the Metropolitan Police Department in her response to Monday evening’s incident involving the Texas Democrat.

“We are grateful for the work of MPD in its response, and we will continue to identify common-sense solutions necessary to fill any gaps in our public safety ecosystem, including proposing and supporting policies that ensure we are also addressing long-term, complex public safety challenges,” she said.

In the Navy Yard neighborhood around 9:30 p.m., Cuellar was held up at gunpoint, and his vehicle, along with his iPhone and iPad, was stolen. Cuellar returned to work on Tuesday, telling reporters he was unharmed and that police recovered the car along with the other items. Like Bowser, he thanked law enforcement for their speedy response time.

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“You have to stay calm in these situations,” Cuellar said on MSNBC. “I gave them the key and they took off. Within minutes, both the Capitol Police and Metro Police were there. I want to thank them. They moved very, very fast.”

The Washington Examiner reached out to Bowser’s office for comment.

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