What’s driving DC’s crime drop? MPD points to federal surge, weather

In the past 41 days, D.C. has recorded a total of four homicides. That’s a 78% drop compared to the same period last year – and a 32-year-old low, police say.

What’s driving down crime? News4 heard answers on the federal surge, the cold weather and violence reduction programs.

On Jan. 21, inside a home in the 1300 block of Varnum Street NE, D.C officers found 18-year-old Malik Moore suffering from gunshot wounds. He later died at a hospital.

Twelve days later, on Feb. 2, police say Nyesha Walden-Hatcher, 27, was found shot and killed in an apartment in the 3100 block of 16th Street NW.

Then, last Thursday, a man was stabbed to death in a building in the 2400 block of Virginia Avenue NW. His name was not immediately released, pending notification of his family.

The fourth case involved a child who died last year and whose death was recently ruled a homicide. Police arrested the child’s grandfather.

Metropolitan Police Department Cmdr. Kevin Kentish said a number of factors are driving down crime.

“The federal surge has definitely played a part. it’s a force multiplier. It’s given us the people that we were missing and we’re now being able to put them in strategic spots. The District is doing a great job with utilizing the resources the surge has provided,” he said. “Additionally, the cold definitely does keep people inside.”

All three of this year’s killings have taken place indoors.

The low number of violent crimes in the city has freed up detectives to work on older cases and, according to D.C. police, it’s producing results.

“Not only do they have the times to go back, it also helps with the time the United States attorney’s office has,” Kentish said. “We’re now able to hold more grand juries. We’re able to go back and take a slow approach and meticulously go through everything.”

Since the first of the year, D.C. police have closed seven homicide cases from previous years.

Then there is the work being done in the community by people like WHUR’s EZ Street. He said there’s nothing to celebrate just yet but he’s seeing results.

“My take is this: There’s been an investment in violence reduction in D.C. for the last couple of years. It has been awesome. I’ve been a part of this work on the federal level with CSOSA, with Marcus Hodges, for a program that I developed under the Academy DC, to reduce recidivism and increase public safety for D.C.,” he said, referring to the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency.

EZ Street runs the program Make Boss Moves, which is designed to build self-esteem.

When compared to the same time last year, violent crime in D.C. is down 36% and overall crime is down 32%.

EZ Street pointed to the need to fund violence reduction programs.

“You have to have money to create peace. It has to happen. If you don’t have the money, you can’t have the peace,” he said.