The District’s priorities are misplaced: police budgets grow while budgets for vital social services rarely keep up with the need. In addition to shifting a small amount of money away from the MPD budget, the DC Council also passed the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2020, which authorizes the creation of a Council-appointed 20-person Police Reform Commission and requires the MPD to quickly release body camera footage following a deadly shooting, among many other reforms. This is just 1.7 percent of MPD’s total operating budget for FY 2021 and is a far cry from advocates’ calls to defund or divest from the police. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Black DC advocates and their allies, the DC Council cut the fiscal year (FY) 2021 Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) local fund budget by $9.6 million, compared to Mayor Bowser’s proposal. Through political uprising and demands that policymakers reexamine police budgets, concerned citizens and advocates are reacting to the increased visibility of violent police killings of Black people in the District and across the country. Enhances funding for the “Cure the Streets” Violence Interruption Program at the Office of the Attorney General.
Allocates an additional $2.8 million to the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, for a total of $10.4 million.Shifts the appropriation and management of the $22.7 million school security contract from MPD to DC Public Schools.Eliminates the Mayor’s proposed $2.1 million increase to the Cadet Corps Program.
Increases local fund dollars in MPD operating budget by $8 million, for a total of $523 million, unadjusted for inflation.Reduces Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) operating budget to $545.7 million, or $13.8 million less than the FY 2020 approved budget, unadjusted for inflation.
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