Mayor Bowser orders the SBEOC to manage D.C.’s response, urging federal agents to follow policing protocols.
WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser issued an order that continues the work of the Safe and Beautiful Emergency Operations Center (SBEOC) and its management. This is the District’s response to the Safe and Beautiful Task Force, established by the president.
Once the presidential emergency ends, the SBEOC will manage the District’s response and coordinate with federal law enforcement. In doing so, the District is requesting that federal partners abide by established policing practices to maintain community confidence.
These policies include: not wearing masks, clearly identifying their agency, and providing identification during arrests and encounters with the public.
“Trust between community and law enforcement is central to our city’s safety. We’re requesting that federal agents adhere to effective community policing practices—not wearing masks, clearly identifying their agency, and providing ID during arrests and encounters with the public,” Bowser said on Twitter.
Among the federal agencies that the District will continue to partner with are: the United States Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Park Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Capitol Police, and the United States Secret Service.
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services will continue leading efforts around homelessness, encampments, and moving people into shelter and housing.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to Mayor Bowser’s statement, saying:
“President Trump’s efforts to crack down on crime in DC have yielded tremendous results in such a short time — violent crime has plummeted and dangerous criminals are being removed from the streets every single night. The Trump Administration is grateful to continue partnering with Mayor Bowser to make DC the safest city in the country. The Mayor’s fellow Democrats should take note, working with President Trump means safer communities and less crime – no one in their right mind could seriously oppose that.”