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Tag: mike murillo

  • DC-area leaders condemn political violence after Charlie Kirk assassination – WTOP News

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    D.C.-area leaders on both sides of the political aisle decried the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot at an event in Utah Wednesday.

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    Officials provide update on search for shooter who killed Charlie Kirk

    D.C.-area leaders on both sides of the political aisle decried the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot at an event in Utah Wednesday.

    “There was a dark soul, an evil present yesterday, that acted in a way that not just shocks the conscience, but murdered a father, murdered a husband, and silenced a voice that was a voice of conversation,” Virginia Gov Youngkin, a Republican, said during an event in Alexandria.

    Youngkin said that any acceptance of a political assassination “illuminates the moral deterioration of some,” and should serve as a wake-up call to the nation.

    “Therefore, we must stand together in a moment and collectively say, ‘No more,’ and collectively bring to justice those that would not just perpetrate this, but in all candor, defend it,” Youngkin said.

    Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay, a Democrat, emphasized the need for civility in political discourse, stating that no political fight is “more valuable than a single human life.”

    “Look, I will debate on a political issue as much as I can, but that should never cross the line into any type of violent behavior,” McKay said.

    In neighboring Maryland, Democratic Gov. Wes Moore said the political violence was “unacceptable.”

    “We will not tolerate it — not now, not ever. The future of our democracy will depend on our ability to resolve political differences peacefully, and not violently,” Moore wrote.

    Sen Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat who represents Maryland, made his stance swift and succinct: “Violence is never the answer. It is never acceptable. Never.”

    WTOP has reached out to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for comment.

    WTOP’s Ciara Wells and Abigail Constantino contributed to this report. 

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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  • Coalition’s Hail Mary push for last-minute changes to RFK stadium deal ahead of final council vote – WTOP News

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    With just a week to go before the D.C. Council takes its final vote on the RFK stadium redevelopment deal, a coalition of more than 30 organizations is making a last-ditch effort to secure changes they say are critical to protecting the environment and ensuring community benefits.

    Nisha Patruni is a member of the RFK Future Task Force.(WTOP/Mike Murillo)

    There’s just a week to go before the D.C. Council takes its final vote on the RFK stadium redevelopment deal. A coalition of more than 30 organizations, many of which previously opposed the project, is making a last-ditch effort to secure changes they say are critical to protecting the environment and ensuring community benefits.

    In a Hail Mary joining of forces, the coalition is urging lawmakers to strengthen environmental protections, clarify and enforce the community benefits agreement, and move up the timeline for affordable housing construction.

    “Sure, I think after the first vote that happened with the council, there was a lot of great progress that was made,” said Nisha Patruni, a member of the RFK Future Task Force and a Kingman Park resident. “But as a group of invested community organizations, we felt like there is still more progress that should be made, and more adjustments or commitments that we want to see.”

    Among the concerns featured in the coalition’s Sept. 10 statement of accountability is the $50 million community benefits package promised by the Commanders, which includes plans like bringing a grocery store to Ward 7. But Patruni said the current legislation lacks clarity.

    “Right now in the legislation, the community benefits agreement is not detailed enough,” she said. “We’re looking for a really clearly outlined community benefits agreement that is also enforceable … and to ensure that all of the invested community groups have a say in what those community benefits look like.”

    Looking to protect the environment

    The coalition also wants to see stronger environmental protections, including a rollback of a provision that allows the removal of more than 30 heritage trees.

    “Lots of groups feel really strongly to make sure we protect the river, protect those trees and also protect the neighborhood,” Patruni said.

    Transportation is another priority. The coalition is pushing for Metro capacity to be expanded in time for the stadium’s opening and for residential neighborhoods to be shielded from traffic overflow.

    “We want to increase Metro capacity,” Patruni said.

    Some money is set aside in the deal for Metro improvements if necessary, and the team has said it would work with Wards 6 and 7 on traffic.

    “We really want to see more commitments around the parking that’s going to be in the residential areas — how we’re going to protect the inflow of traffic, especially cars into the surrounding neighborhoods.”

    The organizations are also calling for the creation of an environmental oversight committee to monitor the project and ensure compliance with sustainability goals. They want the D.C. attorney general to be empowered to enforce environmental requirements.

    Priority to safeguard the community surrounding RFK site

    Despite initial opposition to the stadium project, Patruni said many in the community are now focused on ensuring the development benefits residents.

    “We as a community are excited about the development that can happen,” she said.
    “Bringing retail, bringing more housing, really making our community even more walkable and vibrant than it already is — that’s really exciting.”

    The coalition’s letter also called for a requirement that affordable housing be completed by 2036, several years ahead of the current schedule.

    City Council Chair Phil Mendelson’s office did not comment directly on the coalition’s requests but confirmed that some amendments are expected ahead of the final vote. However, it remains unclear what those amendments will include.

    When asked for comment, Mayor Muriel Bowser’s office provided a previously issued statement:
    “The era of a crumbling sea of asphalt on the banks of the Anacostia is finally coming to an end. In its place, we will bring our team home and deliver a state-of-the-art, Super Bowl-ready stadium for our Commanders, more than 6,000 new homes for DC residents, a SportsPlex for our kids, parks and recreation space for the community, and so much more.”

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  • ‘A burgeoning epidemic’: Why some kids are forming extreme emotional relationships with AI – WTOP News

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    As more kids turn to artificial intelligence to answer questions or help them understand their homework, some appear to be forming too close a relationship with services such as ChatGPT.

    As more kids turn to artificial intelligence to answer questions or help them understand their homework, some appear to be forming too close a relationship with services such as ChatGPT — and that is taking a toll on their mental health.

    “AI psychosis,” while not an official clinical diagnosis, is a term clinicians are using to describe children who appear to be forming emotional bonds with AI, according to Dr. Ashley Maxie-Moreman, clinical psychologist at Children’s National Hospital in D.C.

    Maxie-Moreman said symptoms can include delusions of grandeur, paranoia, fantastical relationships with AI, and even detachment from reality.

    “Especially teens and young adults are engaging with generative AI for excessive periods of time, and forming these sort of fantastical relationships with AI,” she said.

    In addition to forming close bonds with AI, those struggling with paranoia may see their condition worsen, with AI potentially affirming paranoid beliefs.

    “I think that’s more on the extreme end,” Maxie-Moreman said.

    More commonly, she said, young people are turning to generative AI for emotional support. They are sharing information about their emotional well-being, such as feeling depressed, anxious, socially isolated or having suicidal thoughts. The responses they receive from AI vary.

    “And I think on the more concerning end, generative AI, at times, has either encouraged youth to move forward with plans or has not connected them to the appropriate resources or flagged any crisis support,” Maxie-Moreman said.

    “It almost feels like this is a burgeoning epidemic,” she added. “Just in the past couple of weeks, I’ve observed cases of this.”

    Maxie-Moreman said kids who are already struggling with anxiety, depression, social isolation or academic stress are most at risk of developing these bonds with AI. That’s why, she said, if you suspect your child is suffering from those conditions, you should seek help.

    “I think it’s really, really important to get your child connected to appropriate mental health services,” she said.

    With AI psychosis, parents need to be on the lookout for symptoms. One could be a lack of desire to go to school.

    “They’re coming up with a lot of excuses, like, ‘I’m feeling sick,’ or ‘I feel nauseous,’ and maybe you’re finding that the child is endorsing a lot of physical symptoms that are sometimes unfounded in relation to attending school,” Maxie-Moreman said.

    Another sign is a child who appears to be isolating themselves and losing interest in things they used to look forward to, such as playing sports or hanging out with friends.

    “I don’t want to be alarmist, but I do think it’s important for parents to be looking out for these things and to just have direct conversations with their kiddos,” she said.

    Talking to a child about mental health concerns can be tricky, especially if they are teens who, as Maxie-Moreman noted, can be irritable and a bit moody. But having a conversation with them is key.

    “I think not skirting around the bush is probably the most helpful thing. And I think teens tend to get a little bit annoyed with indirectness anyhow, so being direct is probably the best approach,” she said.

    To help prevent these issues, Maxie-Moreman suggested parents start doing emotional check-ins with their children from a young age.

    “Just making it sort of a norm in your household to have conversations about how your child is doing emotionally, checking in with them on a regular basis, is important. So starting at a young age is what I would recommend on the preventative end,” she said.

    She also encouraged parents to talk to their children about the limits of the technology they use, including generative AI.

    “I think that’s probably one of the biggest interventions that will be most helpful,” she said.

    Maxie-Moreman said tech companies must also be held accountable.

    “Ultimately, we have to hold our tech companies accountable, and they need to be implementing better safeguards, as opposed to just worrying about the commercialization of their products,” she said.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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  • DC restaurant owner hopes end of crime emergency will bring diners back – WTOP News

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    As Trump’s declaration of a crime emergency in D.C. comes to an end, one restaurant owner is hoping the change will help reverse a drop in business.

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    DC restaurant owner hopes end of crime emergency will bring diners back

    As President Donald Trump’s declaration of a crime emergency in D.C. comes to an end, one local restaurant owner is hoping the change will help reverse a drop in business.

    Andy Shallal, founder of Busboys and Poets, said his D.C. locations saw a 5% decline in revenue during the federal law enforcement surge, which is an especially tough hit during August, a month that’s already slow for restaurants.

    “We’ve seen a drop by 5% for the D.C. locations across the board. So it’s been tough, no doubt,” Shallal told WTOP. “With the margins of restaurants being so small, quite a substantial drop.”

    However, Trump has said that diners have voiced how safe they feel going out to eat during the surge, saying in mid-August that restaurants have been “busier than they’ve been in a long time.”

    Shallal gave a differing stance. He said since the surge began, his suburban locations saw an uptick in business, while the city locations struggled.

    “People are opting not to travel to come into D.C. is what it seems like. It puts fear in everybody’s mind,” he said.

    While the White House has said the emergency helped reduce crime and encouraged more people to visit restaurants, Shallal believes it also created fear and uncertainty.

    “Fear is created among customers that may want to come into the city,” he said. “It creates anxiety. It’s not good. These types of things are not good for business in general.”

    Though the end of the crime emergency declaration may not immediately reduce the number of National Guard troops or federal officers on the streets, Shallal hopes the optics of it being over will help restore confidence and bring people back to D.C.

    “In business, if you don’t know how to pivot, you die,” he said. “This will come out of the other side, I’m sure, stronger and better.”

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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  • Metro sees big gains in safety and ridership over past year – WTOP News

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    As Metro wraps up a yearlong review of its service, the transit agency is reporting two major wins: a sharp drop in crime and a steady rise in ridership.

    As Metro wraps up a yearlong review of its service, the transit agency is reporting two major wins: a sharp drop in crime and a steady rise in ridership.

    According to Metro’s newly released FY2025 Annual Service Excellence Report, crime across the system fell by 43% between June 2024 and June 2025. The biggest drop was in car thefts at stations, which were down nearly 60%. Larceny cases fell by 33%, while robbery and assault each dropped by more than 20%.

    This continues a downward trend that began in 2023, with overall crime now down 50% compared to two years ago.

    Metro credits the improvement to several key efforts, which include more visible police and staff on trains and platforms, expanded use of surveillance cameras to solve cases and data-driven deployment of officers. Crisis intervention teams also played a role, helping to de-escalate more than 30,000 situations involving individuals in crisis.

    Also last year, Metro introduced new fare gates aimed at preventing fare evasion on trains. Combined with stepped-up fare enforcement, including nearly 20,000 enforcement actions, these efforts are being credited for declining crime rates.

    Ridership on the upswing

    Meanwhile, ridership is on the rise, partially fueled by the return-to-office push in the D.C. area. Metro recorded 264 million trips over the past fiscal year, which is a 9% increase.

    The report also provides a look at Metrorail’s new “Tap. Ride. Go” system, which allows riders to pay a fare by tapping a credit card at the fare gate. Early numbers for the payment system, which was rolled out in May, show it was used for 7% of weekday trips and 13% of weekend trips.

    This year, Metro also implemented automatic train control on all lines, and since the switch was flipped on, the agency said the system is shaving an average of 51 seconds off each trip.

    Some of the areas Metro looks to improve include bus system reliability, with buses being twice as likely to be late than early to a stop. Metro said the afternoon rush hour played a big role in that, but so did a bus driver shortage. Metro plans to address the shortage by hiring 560 bus operators in the coming months.

    While seeing a rise in the use of the MetroAccess system for users with disabilities, the agency also saw satisfaction among users drop from 84% to 78%. Metro said the transition to a new contracting model used last year is to blame for the drop in on-time performance for MetroAccess. It has added a new provider to the mix to help meet demand.

    Metro said the number of riders dissatisfied with safety on the rail system is also going down, from 17% last year to 9% this year. On buses, that number is down from 15% to 13%.

    The report will be presented to Metro’s board during a meeting on Sept. 11.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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  • Chief Jessica Taylor to leave US Park Police after force required to directly report to Interior secretary – WTOP News

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    The Interior Department said U.S. Park Police Chief Jessica Taylor will be retiring from the force to take on a new role with the Social Security Administration.

    U.S. Park Police Chief Jessica Taylor (Courtesy National Park Service, file)

    U.S. Park Police Chief Jessica Taylor will be retiring from the force to take on a new role with the Social Security Administration, according to the Department of the Interior.

    Taylor will serve as the chief security and resiliency officer, which will make up part of the SSA’s newly announced executive leadership team.

    The announcement of her retirement comes after WTOP previously reported on an order placing the Park Police under the direct supervision of the Secretary of the Interior.

    In announcing the decision, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum praised Taylor for her “unwavering commitment to public service and her dedication to keeping our cities, landmarks, and public spaces safe.”

    “Chief Taylor’s leadership, integrity, and service to this country will leave a lasting legacy that will be felt for generations to come,” Burgum added.

    Taylor took over the department in 2023, several months after the abrupt retirement of her predecessor, Pamela Smith, who now leads the D.C. police.

    In the announcement, Taylor said leading the U.S. Park Police has been the greatest honor of her career.

    “I leave with immense gratitude and deep respect for this Force and everyone who works with grit and integrity serving in the United States Park Police,” Taylor said.

    The Interior Department said Taylor will continue to assist with the “crucial” law enforcement surge in the District until her last day on Sept. 20. Her successor is expected to be named in the coming weeks.

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  • DC leaders react to lawsuit aimed at ending National Guard deployment – WTOP News

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    D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said her focus remains on planning for the exit out of President Donald Trump’s declared crime emergency, while council members supported the lawsuit.

    As legal and political tensions escalate over federal intervention in the District, Mayor Muriel Bowser is turning her attention toward the end of President Donald Trump’s declared crime emergency — while council members rally behind a lawsuit challenging the continued deployment of the National Guard.

    At a news conference on Thursday morning following the announcement of the lawsuit filed by D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb challenging the use of the National Guard, Bowser said, “This has been a legal question throughout the emergency, not just today. And I will just reiterate that my focus, and the focus of our emergency operations center, is on planning for the exit out of the emergency next week.”

    The Army later said it’s extending orders for the D.C. National Guard to remain in the nation’s capital through Nov. 30, two U.S. officials told ABC News on Thursday.

    The crime emergency is scheduled to end Sept. 10.

    Bowser said she has not been consulted on any possible extension.

    “I’m not sure that that’s an indication of how long they’ll be deployed. I know that there’s a lot of reporting about how weary they are. And I get that, because deployments are hard. People are away from their families, and they may not necessarily think they’re on mission,” Bowser said.

    “So, I think that the deployments themselves are running their course,” she added. “We are organized to best use our own public safety resources and any additional public safety resources. And I think that’s a message for the Congress.”

    Council members react to lawsuit

    Speaking to WTOP, Ward 3 Council member Matthew Frumin and At-Large Council member Robert White expressed support for the lawsuit.

    “There was just a decision that said the president has improperly deployed the National Guard in other places,” Frumin said. “So, the fact that the attorney general would capitalize on those findings in other jurisdictions to try to get us to where we want to be, which is not having armed soldiers on our streets, makes sense.”

    White echoed that support, saying he believes AG Schwalb has built a “strong case.”

    “What the president is doing is illegal. He’s not respecting Congress, he’s not respecting Home Rule, he’s not respecting D.C. residents,” White said.

    Frumin also spoke about the mayor’s position, describing it as “incredibly difficult.” He acknowledged the criticism Bowser has faced but said she is trying to find a way forward.

    “If we could get to a place where the ICE activity got under control and the National Guard left, that would be a vast improvement over where we are,” he said.

    He said Bowser likely has the clearest sense of what might lead to the end of the emergency, given her direct communication with federal officials.

    “I have to believe she knows this might not work, but she’s made the determination that this is the best, most constructive path forward. And I want to support her in that,” Frumin said.

    White, however, took a sharply different view. He warned the mayor’s recent order establishing an operations center to coordinate with federal law enforcement could send the wrong message and undermine D.C.’s autonomy.

    “We have to protect D.C., Home Rule and democracy,” White said. “It’s hard for national voices, other governors, members of Congress, to say ‘stop what’s happening in D.C.’ if they’re getting a message that D.C. welcomes it. D.C. does not welcome it.”

    Bowser, in responding to criticism on Wednesday, said her goal is to end the emergency, not to invite federal intervention.

    Still, White accused the mayor of trying to appease the president, a strategy he believes is bound to fail.

    “It’s not going to work,” he said. “We have to make sure we work with our allies, those who believe in democracy and Home Rule, to protect it.”

    The White House has defended the federal effort. On Tuesday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the deployment of federal law enforcement and National Guard troops in D.C. “has yielded tremendous results in such a short time. Violent crime has plummeted, and dangerous criminals are being removed from the streets every single night.”

    Frumin acknowledged the drop in crime but cautioned that the current approach is not sustainable. He said some residents now feel unsafe while simply being outside.

    White agreed. He warned that while crime may be down, the long-term damage to the community’s trust in the government could make the city less safe in the future.

    “So, when the military leaves our city, we are left with that broken reputation that’s going to make us less safe,” he said.

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  • Clergy members gather in DC to pray and protest federal law enforcement surge – WTOP News

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    Members of the D.C. faith community gathered on Freedom Plaza, just steps from the White House and the Wilson Building, to both pray and protest the federal law enforcement surge in the nation’s capital.

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    Clergy gather in DC to pray and protest federal law enforcement surge

    On Thursday, members of D.C.’s faith community gathered on Freedom Plaza, just steps from the White House and the Wilson Building, to both pray and protest the federal law enforcement surge in the nation’s capital.

    The gathering comes amid a growing national debate over federal intervention in local policing in D.C.

    “We’ve gathered together today, God, to come against legislation and policies that would impose itself on the rights of the citizens of the District of Columbia,” said the Rev. Keith William Byrd Sr., pastor of the historic Zion Baptist Church in Northwest D.C.

    One by one, faith leaders stepped up to the microphone, offering prayers for the city and its leaders during what they called an “illegal occupation.”

    “Heavenly Father, we just ask you to be in this place right now — this place called the District of Columbia,” the Rev. Patricia Fears said.

    While the White House credits the deployment of federal officers and National Guard troops with helping reduce crime in the city, the faith leaders said they’re standing up against actions they called unconstitutional.

    “What we see going on is wrong. What we see is not right. It’s not constitutional. We cannot abide by it,” the Rev. Clarence Cross said.

    They were joined by D.C. Council members Matthew Frumin and Robert White, who stood with the crowd in prayer and song.

    “We’re here not just as elected officials, but as neighbors and allies,” Frumin said.

    “At some point, we will get to those pearly gates, and we will be asked what you did in this time. And I don’t know about you, but I know what my answer will be. It’s going to be that I did everything I could,” White said.

    Faith leaders said the vigil is just the beginning. Weekly prayer services and community forums are planned throughout September.

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  • US Park Police chief to report directly to Interior secretary under new order – WTOP News

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    According to a new order, Chief Jessica Taylor will now report directly to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum or a designated official, bypassing the traditional chain of command within the National Park Service.

    The Department of the Interior is restructuring the U.S. Park Police, moving its leadership one step closer to the White House by placing the chief under direct supervision of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

    In an order signed by Burgum, Chief Jessica Taylor will now report directly to Burgum or a designated official, bypassing the traditional chain of command within the National Park Service. Burgum or his designee, according to the order, “will provide strategic management and operational control of the USPP.”

    Signed Aug. 25, the order removes the National Park Service director and the assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks from any supervisory role over the police force, though they will continue to provide administrative support.

    The move comes as the force continues to grapple with chronic understaffing and, in recent weeks, an increased workload tied to President Donald Trump’s law enforcement surge in D.C.

    It also follows a recent executive order from Trump calling for a rapid expansion of the force, with the U.S. Park Police Fraternal Order of Police saying new hires will be drawn from those with prior law enforcement experience.

    Past controversies still cast a shadow

    Burgum also recently announced a change to relax pursuit policies for the agency.

    The Interior Department said the change reflects the evolving role of the U.S. Park Police, whose jurisdiction now extends well beyond national parks.

    “It recognizes that the USPP jurisdiction and responsibility, particularly in the National Capital Region, extends beyond National Park System assets and implicates equities of other Federal agencies and virtually all local jurisdictions, which makes it essential for the USPP to be managed at the highest levels of Department of the Interior,” the order reads.

    The Interior Department shared a statement from a U.S. Park Police spokesperson with WTOP, saying the force recognizes the increasingly important role its officers play in protecting “our nation’s federal lands, national treasures, symbols of democracy, as well as our public safety component in Washington, D.C.”

    “As visibility increases, so too does our resolve — to serve with honor, integrity, and service,” the statement read.

    It’s unclear what impact the change will have on the department, which has seen controversies in the past, among them the clearing of Lafayette Park during protests of the death of George Floyd in June 2020.

    The clearing sparked claims that it was timed to coincide with Trump’s visit to St. John’s Church, which had been damaged during the protests.

    The Interior Department’s inspector general ultimately found the clearing was not ordered due to the presidential visit, but rather to allow fencing installation, though the incident raised serious concerns about communication failures.

    There were also concerns of delays in the release of information and a lack of transparency from the force and the Interior Department after two officers shot and killed Bijan Ghaisar after a car chase on the George Washington Memorial Parkway in 2017.

    The officers in that shooting were later cleared of wrongdoing after a lengthy investigation and legal process.

    Police union supports direct line to the top

    Ken Spencer, chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police, praised Burgum’s decision to change the reporting structure for USPP.

    “I think it’s a great change, and I think it’s something that needed to happen,” Spencer said.

    He explained that the previous reporting structure created layers of red tape for the USPP, and believes the change will result in more resources, better funding and stronger public advocacy for the force.

    While acknowledging past struggles with transparency, Spencer said the new structure will help Park Police continue making strides in that area.

    “It always depends on who’s in charge of the administration, but I believe this will definitely improve transparency with the United States Park Police being able to go directly to the Department of Interior,” Spencer said.

    Asked whether the move could politicize the department, Spencer noted that both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management already report directly to the Interior Department. He said given the complexity of Park Police’s mission, reporting directly to the top benefits everyone.

    “If it gets politicized, then that’s on whatever administration is in charge,” Spencer said.

    Several area lawmakers were contacted for comment about the change and several offices indicated to WTOP that they had not yet seen the order.

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  • College credits for cops: Montgomery Co. police tackle recruitment challenges with education benefits – WTOP News

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    Like many other area police departments, Montgomery County has a need for more police officers, and it hopes to lure in recruits and keep its veterans with discounted college education.

    Like many other area police departments, Montgomery County has a need for more police officers, and it hopes to lure in recruits and keep its veterans with discounted college education.

    The county’s police department has partnered with the University of Maryland Global Campus to offer officers and their immediate family members savings of up to $60,000 on graduate or undergraduate programs.

    “This is about investing in people — the men and women who serve here, their families who support them. This partnership reflects our commitment to investing in the future of not only this department, but the future of our communities that we serve,” Police Chief Marc Yamada said.

    With training academy classes under their belt and in-the-field training, some officers will be able to transfer all of that into 60 college credit hours at the start of their coursework. Military service, certification and some other vocational education could add on another 30 credit hours, leaving officers only 30 credits shy of a bachelor’s degree.

    The program will offer both UMGC​’s fully online degree programs and in-person classes.

    Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said this partnership solves a “college problem” for the police department.

    “It gets people into our program and through these classes, which will make better police officers, and it does it in the way that anybody who wants to be a police officer can do it without trying to think, ‘How long do I have to delay my career, and how hard is it going to be to go to school to get there?’” Elrich said.

    Rand Hansen, associate dean for the School of Integrative and Professional Studies at UMGC, said this announcement of the partnership is only the beginning.

    “We are committed not only to staying together and providing meaningful, high-quality learning experiences, but also to expand our partnership and explore new opportunities for collaboration with both the police academy and the department in the years ahead,” he said.

    Capt. David Reed heads the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Academy and helped make the partnership a reality.

    “I’m excited for the opportunities it creates in our recruiting and for the rank and file that serve Montgomery County,” Reed said.

    Reed said he believes offering this will “change the game” when it comes to recruiting new officers as the department tries to fill about 180 vacancies.

    Yamada also said he believes the program will be pivotal in keeping current officers with the department.

    “You’re talking about somebody who was not able to, say, obtain the rank of sergeant, now might be able to. For somebody who wants to get a graduate’s degree, all these things play into the ability for us to retain officers who are already here,” Yamada said.

    Within hours of offering the partnership, the department received 50 applications from officers, professional staff and family members of those individuals to whom the program is available.

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  • Montgomery County watching for ripple effects from DC law enforcement surge – WTOP News

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    A law enforcement surge in D.C. has led to the clearing of homeless encampments and an alleged reduction in crime, but it is also raising concerns in neighboring communities.

    A law enforcement surge in D.C. has led to the clearing of homeless encampments and an alleged reduction in crime, but it is also raising concerns in neighboring communities, including Montgomery County, Maryland, about possible spikes in crime and homelessness as a result.

    “All of our district commands are aware to keep an eye out for any changes,” Montgomery County Police Chief Marc Yamada said.

    Yamada said unlike other situations, of which he has experience or can call on someone who has, this federal intervention in D.C. is new and “historic.”

    “Everyone is sort of learning on the fly,” Yamada told WTOP.

    Yamada said there has been a slight uptick in people requesting services, such as housing, and they are working to get those individuals support. He said the department is working with Health and Human Services to detect any changes in homeless populations.

    The chief said he has also been in close contact with D.C. police leadership to understand their approach. This includes conversations with Chief Pamela Smith and her deputies.

    “To figure out, what exactly are you doing? Are you providing further assistance? Are you just pushing the problem somewhere else?” Yamada said.

    County Executive Marc Elrich said, in speaking with other counties that border D.C., including Arlington County, there hasn’t been a dramatic spike in homelessness.

    “So far, it’s managed. So far, D.C. is taking responsibility for it. We’ve only seen a couple of people,” Elrich said.

    When it comes to crime, Yamada said there has not been a spike, which he said they are “pretty happy” about.

    “I don’t want to jinx us, but we’re not seeing some of the things we were afraid we might see,” he said.

    Elrich said he doesn’t believe the county will see a spike in crimes being committed because of the actions the federal government is taking in D.C.

    “To be blunt, I mean a lot of the crime in D.C., particularly the violent stuff, it’s people who know people. So, they don’t know people out here. This is internal to the communities. And so, a lot of that doesn’t translate to taking it someplace else,” Elrich said.

    He also believes Montgomery County’s tough stance on prosecution acts as a deterrent.

    “I don’t think we’re easy prey. I mean, we prosecute,” he said. “We’re serious about prosecuting.”

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  • Dept. of Interior aims to hire 100 officers to bolster US Park Police ranks – WTOP News

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    With plans to onboard at least 100 new officers through lateral transfers, the U.S. Park Police aims to quickly bolster its force amid rising demands on federal law enforcement.

    The union that represents U.S. Park Police officers said it is seeing a new urgency from the Department of the Interior to address what it calls a “critical shortage” of officers in the D.C. region.

    The new momentum to bring on new officers comes after an executive order from President Donald Trump on Monday as the federal law enforcement surge in the nation’s capital continues.

    Chair of the U.S. Park Police Fraternal Order of Police Ken Spencer called it the most movement he’s seen from the Interior in his over six years of sounding the alarm about the staffing shortage.

    “They are taking proactive steps to try and hire more police officers for our agency very quickly,” Spencer told WTOP.

    Spencer said since the increase in presence of law enforcement began, there have been visits by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum at roll calls for officers, including one during which he was joined by President Trump. But he said talks to staff up truly got underway following the executive order.

    Last week, Spencer told WTOP the department, which patrols the National Mall and several area parkways, has been working in the D.C. region with 294 officers, when it should have 436.

    Spencer said he has been told the goal is to bring on at least 100 new officers quickly, which he believes will happen through lateral transfers. He said those hires involve bringing in police officers who work at other area police departments to reduce training time.

    “Put them through some sort of agency-specific training … approximately five or six weeks of training with U.S. Park Police — specific general orders and training,” Spencer said. “Then go through our field training process, where they could just get on the street and start working quickly.”

    With new recruits without police experience, he said it takes roughly a year to turn them into street-ready officers.

    While not confirming how many new officers will be quickly hired this year, in a statement to WTOP, Department of the Interior Deputy Press Secretary Aubrie Spady said the administration is “bolstering staffing and resources” and is “fast-tracking” recruitment efforts to “quickly grow the force.”

    “Morale is high among the U.S. Park Police as the Trump administration backs law enforcement with real action,” Spady wrote. “Our dedicated Park Police are excited to welcome these new additions who are joining the mission to protect our nation’s capital.”

    While getting new officers in place will take some of the stress off the current force, Spencer said there are challenges with quickly onboarding officers, even if they have law enforcement experience.

    “Of course, we’re trying to work out the logistics, because we’re not only just understaffed with sworn law enforcement, but we’re also understaffed with support personnel and training officers that can come in and help train new recruits at a quicker pace than what we’ve been doing,” he said.

    Spencer said he believes this will be the most officers the department has brought on in a year. Before this, he only recalls one year when 72 officers were brought onto the force over the course of a year.

    To bring in officers, especially those who work at other departments, Spencer said the move would need to be incentivized.

    Signing bonuses are likely, Spencer said, but he said those alone will not bring officers over or retain currently with the department.

    Spencer said proposals should include retention bonuses, competitive pay for officers, allow officers to take patrol cars home and reduce the years an officer needs to work to receive a pension from 30 to 22 years.

    “We have looked at other law enforcement agencies, at what they’re doing, like the D.C. police. We’ve looked at what Capitol Police has done over the years, the Secret Service Uniform Division — we’re looking to get somewhere in that ballpark,” Spencer said.

    Spencer said the call for the “U.S. Park Police Modernization Act,” a House bill that he said aims to modernize the pay and retirement structure for officers, to be passed by Congress remains.

    “If they just throw a big lump sum of money at us and try and say, ‘Hey, just hire some officers,’ that’s not going to fix the core problem,” he said. “The problem is officers are walking out the door and going somewhere else for greener pastures.”

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  • A person’s excessive sweating and sensitive skin could be connected – WTOP News

    A person’s excessive sweating and sensitive skin could be connected – WTOP News

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    A new study from the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology revealed that there could be a connection to your excessive sweating and sensitive skin.

    There may be a link between sensitive skin and excessive sweating, according to a new study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. The study, which looked at more than 600 people with both conditions, found that 90% of people who sweat more than normal had sensitive skin.

    “These findings are very important because it one gives us insight into maybe why people have sensitive skin and what’s driving it, and that may allow us to come up with better treatments,” said Adam Friedman, professor and chair of dermatology at the George Washington University.

    Friedman was one of the authors of the study and said 70% of the global population deals with sensitive skin and 40% of those people have no other skin condition. The condition can also be disabling as heat and temperature changes can cause symptoms such as burning and itching to become more intense.

    He said excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, is also a very common condition.

    Friedman said finding a link between both conditions could lead doctors to new ways to help sufferers, especially since it seems the nervous system plays a key role.

    “Maybe there is something to do with how the nerves stimulate, whether it be the sweat glands or the skin, and therefore targeting said nerves might be a way of better treating this really common yet really frustrating condition,” Friedman said.

    As studies continue to better understand the connection between the two, Friedman said the hope is the study will help doctors ask the right questions to patients with one of the two conditions.

    “It really means better treatment options, ultimately, but also a better way to partner with those suffering with this condition,” he said.

    Friedman said he urges people with both conditions to discuss them with their dermatologist, because that could lead to different plans of action, for treatment.

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  • Former Prince George’s Co. officer claims union stopped her from suing department for retaliation – WTOP News

    Former Prince George’s Co. officer claims union stopped her from suing department for retaliation – WTOP News

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    With the goal of clearing her name, former Lt. Sonya Zollicoffer said she is suing the police union and an officer from another department that recommended she be let go.

    Sonya Zollicoffer, a former Prince George’s County police internal affairs officer, says she was essentially forced to retire in 2017.(Courtesy Sonya Zollicoffer)

    A former Prince George’s County police internal affairs officer has filed a federal lawsuit against her union, after she claimed an attorney for the union prevented her from going after the department on her own for what she called “a case of retaliation against her.”

    With the goal of clearing her name, former Lt. Sonya Zollicoffer said she is suing the union and a police officer from another department that recommended she be let go.

    “Let me tell you, I sat in my car plenty of times crying. … Why me?” Zollicoffer told WTOP.

    Zollicoffer, who is Black, claims the case stems from a 2017 investigation she did, during which she recommended charges against two white police officers she believed both profiled and used excessive force on a man during a traffic stop.

    She claimed after her recommendation, the case was reassigned and Zollicoffer was promoted out of the internal affairs division. Once in a new area of the department, Zollicoffer said she discovered the dash camera video evidence she used to support her case against the officers was different.

    “I looked at my own copy, and then I realized seven minutes is missing,” she said.

    At this point, she said, from her new position, she pushed for the original video to be located and it ultimately resulted in her being reprimanded by a panel of officers, demoted and later recommended for dismissal by an officer with another department who investigated her alleged actions.

    The two officers she investigated were later cleared.

    The Prince George’s County Police Department declined to comment on pending litigation, they said in an email to WTOP.

    Zollicoffer said she was essentially forced to retire, to avoid a drop in her pension payouts. In 2018, she began to challenge what happened to her in court.

    While fighting the case, Zollicoffer said she joined a class action discrimination lawsuit against the department by some Black and brown officers, and settling that case resulted in her being unable to file a suit against the department for her matter.

    “That attorney (the union attorney) had a duty to inform her of the rights that she would immediately lose,” said Zollicoffer’s attorney, Jordan Howlette.

    In her lawsuit, Zollicoffer also claimed the union would assign her legal counsel who also represented the two officers she had been investigating.

    “On multiple occasions, Ms. Zollicoffer informed Defendant FOP that she objected to the representation because of the direct conflict,” the lawsuit states.

    WTOP reached out to FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) Lodge 89 and it declined to comment on the case.

    Howlette said being unable to go after the department — his hope in this case — if successful, could result in the clearing of Zollicoffer’s name.

    “The entire thing, the entire negative effect on her personnel record, we’re seeking that all be abated and taken out of her personnel records,” he said.

    For Zollicoffer, she said fighting this is about restoring her reputation.

    “I didn’t deserve this. I didn’t do anything wrong,” Zollicoffer said.

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  • Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema on 25 years of dining undercover – WTOP News

    Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema on 25 years of dining undercover – WTOP News

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    For 25 years in the D.C. region, Washington Post Food Critic Tom Sietsema has been helping people decide where they’ll dine out with his honest reviews.

    For nearly 25 years, Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema has been helping people in the D.C. region decide where they’ll dine out with his honest reviews. From lavish sit-down restaurants to hole-in-the-wall spots, he’s secretly reviewed hundreds of restaurants.

    “I was taking notes under the table on pieces of paper with this thing called a pen, and stealing menus, or ‘filching menus,’ we like to say,” Sietsema recalled of his early days on the job.

    His job and the job of a spy have a lot in common.

    “Over the years, I have used hair pieces, facial hair. I’ve used stained teeth,” he said.

    The teeth idea didn’t work out well: “I would have to take the stained teeth off, put them in my napkin and actually chew the food separately, and then put my stained teeth back on and sort of look around in the dining room,” Sietsema said.

    With better technology, he knows more restaurants likely have his picture up on kitchen walls, so it’s also not uncommon for him to dine with a group or show up late, once the waitstaff is set and the appetizer orders are in.

    When deciding which restaurant to review, he likes to mix things up, from the neighborhood and city to the cuisine type — though he said a famous chef’s new restaurant also has news value.

    His first review in August of 2000 was at The Prime Rib on K Street because he said steakhouses, at the time, were places where people would go for celebrations, meetings or just a special dinner out.

    Times have since changed.

    “We can let that descriptor, ‘Washington is a steakhouse town,’ just die,” he said. “It hasn’t been true for a long time.”

    He said since then, D.C. has seen a boom of neighborhood restaurants, many of which are not aimed at people in a specific tax bracket.

    “What we have now is these really great, solid, middle-tier restaurants. Places where you would choose to go if you don’t feel like cooking on a Tuesday or Wednesday night,” he said.

    Sietsema said that over the years, he’s also watched people out in the suburbs get more and more great options, so a trip to D.C. wasn’t needed to get a good meal. His examples ranged from Padeak — a “Thai plus Laotian” restaurant in Arlington — to Melina, a Greek restaurant in North Bethesda.

    “There are dozens of places like that. That means you can stay close to home and eat well at the same time,” he said.

    In his 25th year at the Post, Sietsema said he is trying to be “reflective” with his annual guide for foodies. That means with “The 40 best restaurants in and around D.C.,” he said readers will get some classics, along with some new arrivals.

    The classics include OBELISK and its five-course Italian dinners, as well as The Bombay Club, known for its Indian cuisine.

    “I look at them, I think, ‘Wow, to be able to do something so well at such a good, high level for such a long time, is really an honor,’” he said.

    His No. 1 restaurant is Chicatana, which opened during the pandemic in Columbia Heights and, despite being close to his home, he didn’t learn about it until recently.

    “I’m celebrating Chicatana, which is owned by three young guys who have worked hard, kept their nose the grindstone, and are quietly doing a fabulous job of serving Mexican food,” he said.

    As newspapers across the country do away with their food critics, Sietsema said he is lucky the Post supports him in his role.

    “I think the Washington Post treats restaurant criticism as seriously as it does government and politics, which we are best known for,” he said.

    This includes paying for multiple dinners that include multiple diners on several occasions, because he doesn’t only visit restaurants once before reviewing them. Instead, they are thoroughly vetted through multiple visits.

    “A restaurant on Monday night is much different than a restaurant on Saturday night. Dining by yourself at the bar is a much different experience than dining with four or six people in the dining room,” he said.

    He also said in today’s world, the critic can find himself criticized after a review not everyone agrees with.

    “I think it’s kind of fun, because years ago, if people had a beef with a restaurant critic, they would call the restaurant critic, they would write in,” Sietsema said. “Now … if you read the comments following a review, we’re all being reviewed, right?”

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  • ‘When you’re called to do something, you can’t really fight it’: This elementary educator is DC’s Teacher of the Year – WTOP News

    ‘When you’re called to do something, you can’t really fight it’: This elementary educator is DC’s Teacher of the Year – WTOP News

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    Jazzmyne Townsend, a K-5 English language arts (ELA) instructional coach at Stanton Elementary School in Southeast D.C. was awarded 2025 D.C. Teacher of the Year.

    Jazzmyne Townsend, a K-5 English language arts (ELA) Instructional Coach at Stanton Elementary School was awarded 2025 DC Teacher of the Year.(WTOP/Mike Murillo )

    Jazzmyne Townsend, a K-5 English language arts (ELA) instructional coach at Stanton Elementary School in Southeast D.C., showed up to an assembly to help celebrate National Book Month with her students. Little did she know, a massive surprise was in store for her.

    While the month of reading was being celebrated by Stanton Elementary students and staff, Townsend received a huge surprise when guest speaker Mayor Muriel Bowser announced her name as the 2025 DC Teacher of the Year.

    “Boys and girls, I think we surprised Ms. Townsend,” Bowser said, as Townsend wiped tears from her eyes and made her way to the podium.

    Townsend said she was honored to be selected. In addition to the title, Townsend was awarded a $7,500 check.

    “This definitely was a surprise, but this is a great start to my birthday, and I am honored. I am humbled to receive this recognition,” she told the crowd.

    Townsend has worked for the school system for 16 years, and Dr. Antoinette Mitchell, Interim State Superintendent of the Office of the State Superintendent of Education, said that when they were reviewing the educator’s application, they knew she was the “best of the best.”

    Townsend’s projects stuck out to those who saw it. She had her students make multiplication tables that were as big as they were, and she teamed up with a laundromat to create a project that promoted literacy.

    “Any teacher that connects literacy and laundry deserves this award,” Mitchell said.

    Townsend also began a mentoring program called “My Sister’s Keeper” for girls who were experiencing struggles both inside and outside of the classroom.

    “They’ve self-published a children’s book and got students involved as well, resulting in not one but two books written by students,” Bowser said of the program.

    They celebrated the teacher, whose mother and sister are also both teachers. In college, Townsend siad she  had studied business but found herself drawn to teaching.

    “When you’re called to do something, you can’t really fight it,” Townsend said.

    She said as teacher of the year, she intends to continue advocating for her students and their families.

    Her message to other teachers: Always strive for the best for your students.

    “Every student deserves someone who is irrationally passionate about their success, about their academic achievement. And bringing your true, authentic self to the classroom every single day is what makes the difference for students,” Townsend said.

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  • DC coffee shop owner under fire for encounter with Uber Eats driver – WTOP News

    DC coffee shop owner under fire for encounter with Uber Eats driver – WTOP News

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    A delivery driver in D.C. says he was berated and assaulted by a D.C. coffee shop owner — and he posted video of the encounter on TikTok. Police are now investigating.

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    DC coffee shop owner under fire for encounter with Uber Eats driver

    An Uber Eats delivery driver from Venezuela is calling for justice after he claims he was berated and assaulted by a D.C. coffee shop owner.

    On Monday morning, delivery driver Gregorio José Amundarain Lávate said the encounter began when he went to Canna Coffee on Florida Avenue in Northwest D.C. to pick up an order.

    “He told me that the order was ready. When I went to go look for the order, he told me I need to learn English. And I told him I don’t speak English. That’s when he became upset,” said Amundarain Lávate through a translator.

    The driver, who is a native of Venezuela, said he began recording the interaction to have as proof and the video has since gone viral on social media.

    “Here I am working, trying to provide for my family that’s in Venezuela, and change my life here for the better, little by little,” he said.

    In the video, the cafe’s owner Greg Harris can be seen yelling at the driver, saying, “If you’re getting money in America, learn English,” and “Learn English, this ain’t your … country.”

    “He was practically humiliating me just because I didn’t know the language,” Amundarain Lávate said.

    WTOP attempted to interview Harris but he declined our request.

    Harris posted a picture of the WTOP reporter who requested the interview on his Instagram account with the caption, “Wanna know what happened? Gotta pay for an exclusive.” WTOP does not pay for interviews.

    D.C. police said it is investigating what happened as a possible hate crime and a case of simple assault. The owner has not been arrested or charged.

    In a statement to WTOP, Uber said action has been taken against the business because of what occurred: “We are absolutely disgusted by this behavior. Uber is proud to help people from many backgrounds find work in their communities, and hate has no place on our platform. We have removed this business from the app and are working to get in touch with the courier to check on his well-being.”

    The business also advertises it provides delivery through Grubhub.

    In an emailed statement, Grubhub said: “We are aware of the incident with another delivery service at Canna Coffee. Delivery partners should always be treated with respect, and we’re doing a full investigation with this merchant before taking any further action.”

    WTOP’s Juan Herrera, Ciara Wells and José Umaña contributed to this report.

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  • Family of DC man killed by police outside a McDonald’s in Southeast calls for federal probe – WTOP News

    Family of DC man killed by police outside a McDonald’s in Southeast calls for federal probe – WTOP News

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    The relatives of Justin Robinson believe police didn’t do enough to de-escalate the situation before opening fire on the 25-year-old who worked as a violence interrupter in the city.

    The family of a man who was shot and killed by police outside a McDonald’s in Southeast D.C. earliest this month is calling for the U.S. Justice Department to launch a civil rights investigation into his killing. The relatives of Justin Robinson believe police didn’t do enough to de-escalate the situation before opening fire on the 26-year-old who worked as a violence interrupter in the city.

    “This was somebody that had a bright future, and, unfortunately, due to the aggressive actions of MPD officers, that life has been tragically cut short,” said Andrew O. Clarke, an attorney for the family.

    Justin Robinson (Courtesy Robinson family)

    At 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 1, police found Robinson unconscious in his car with a gun on his lap, after he had crashed into the fast-food restaurant at 2529 Good Hope Road.

    Police body camera footage appears to show officers coming up to the car as Robinson began to wake up. Robinson could be seen partially lowering the driver’s side window as officers surrounded the vehicle. That was followed by officers sticking their service weapons into the open window and demanding that Robinson raise his hands and not touch his weapon.

    Last week, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith said the video showed Robinson grabbing an officer’s gun before officers opened fire, killing Robinson. Smith also said the video shows Robinson’s gun falling from his left hand.

    “The police are saying that they saw a gun in his lap, but how do you justify then placing a firearm within inches of somebody’s face that was just unconscious and is coming to consciousness at that time, and they really have not been able to explain that part of it,” Clarke said.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the office, as well as the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, is aware of the “circumstances surrounding the tragic shooting of Justin Robinson.”

    “If evidence reveals potential violations of federal criminal statutes, the Justice Department will take appropriate action,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement to WTOP.

    The Metropolitan Police Department said the case remains under investigation.

    “The entire case will be independently reviewed by the United States Attorney’s Office,” the department said in an email.

    The officers involved are on paid administrative leave.

    Robinson’s family reacts

    Robinson’s sister Tralicia Robinson remembered her brother as a “bubbly individual” who cherished his job with the D.C. Office of the Attorney General’s “Cure the Streets” program.

    Robinson had a criminal past, but his sister said he had turned his life around and wanted to help others not make the same mistakes he did.

    “Helping people was his passion,” she said.

    Tralicia recalled getting a call from Justin’s twin brother while kayaking. She recalled thinking her brother was calling to see her on the water with his niece, but instead, she said through tears, he told her what had happened.

    “I just remember paddling back to shore, breaking down. My knees were buckling. They were collapsing,” she told WTOP.

    His sister said days later, she saw the body camera footage before it was released to the public and what she saw left her outraged.

    “I thought poor tactics. I was furious, I was sad. I was confused. Now, I was stuck with a thought of, ‘I can’t believe that this happened to Justin,’” she said.

    The loss of her brother, she said, has not only shaken their family, but the community as well.

    “It left pain. You have some people again who are outraged. You have some people who feel unprotected. You have so many people asking, Where do we go from here? It just left the community in shock,” Tralicia said.

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  • DC police union calls for city’s violence interruption programs to be ‘shut down’ and examined – WTOP News

    DC police union calls for city’s violence interruption programs to be ‘shut down’ and examined – WTOP News

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    D.C.’s police union is calling on all violence interruption programs to have their funding immediately halted until the programs can be examined.

    D.C.’s police union is calling on all violence interruption programs that the city funds to have their funding immediately halted until the programs can be thoroughly examined, they wrote in a statement released Monday.

    The union said the move is a necessary step after Ward 8 Council member Trayon White’s arrest for allegedly accepting bribes to help a business owner renew violence interruption contracts.

    “We’re asking that these programs get shut down until someone can investigate and get to the bottom of whether or not they’re operating appropriately,” union chairman Gregg Pemberton told WTOP.

    Violence interruption programs include community-based strategies for tackling crime, and the city, like many others across the nation, helps fund many of the programs. In the statement, the union claims these programs are “shady businesses touting unproven approaches to improving public safety.”

    In White’s case, the council member could be seen on video agreeing to accept $156,000 in payments from the business owner for offering his help in getting a contract renewed. The union called him “an unabashed antagonist of police,” and noted that his arrest “exposed the deeply flawed rationale behind” legislation passed by the D.C. Council.

    “This arrest was just two weeks ago, and, obviously, while we’re processing the impact of these effects, what we’re realizing is that these violence interruption programs, potentially, have a lot of questions that need to be answered, and we think what’s appropriate is that the council shut down these programs until we get those answers,” Pemberton said.

    Pemberton called for background checks for all employees of the programs, even though some of the programs hire individuals who served time for committing crimes in the past.

    In addition to cutting the funding until audits are complete, the union also called for the city to terminate the contracts of programs, which are found to have not followed the rules of their contracts.

    WTOP has reached out to the offices of Mayor Muriel Bowser and the D.C. Attorney General for comment.

    “I think we should start asking more questions about who these (people convicted of crimes) are, and whether or not they’re actually good for these communities,” Pemberton said.

    The union chair also believes the focus should be on filling officer vacancies in the city.

    “I think we’re at a place where not only is it dangerous to have these people out here, but they’re now sucking up taxpayer funds to, allegedly, go out and do this job that police should be doing,” Pemberton said.

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  • ‘I was horrified’: Dog reunited with owner after being stolen at gunpoint in Prince George’s Co. – WTOP News

    ‘I was horrified’: Dog reunited with owner after being stolen at gunpoint in Prince George’s Co. – WTOP News

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    A woman has been reunited with her dog after she says her pet was stolen at gunpoint on Saturday morning in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

    A woman has been reunited with her dog after she says her pet was stolen at gunpoint on Saturday morning in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
    (Courtesy Sophia Radich)

    Courtesy Sophia Radich

    Sophia Radich’s dog was reportedly stolen outside of her apartment on Aug. 31, 2024. The two were reunited after Radich put up fliers and offered a reward for the safe return of her pet.
    (Courtesy Sophia Radich)

    Courtesy Sophia Radich

    A woman has been reunited with her dog after she says her pet was stolen at gunpoint on Saturday morning in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

    Sophia Radich told WTOP she was reunited with her dog on Sunday afternoon after a tipster spotted her pet in Landover and reached out.

    The robbery reportedly happened near the 4800 block of Avondale Overlook Drive in Chillum at around 7 a.m. on Saturday, according to Prince George’s County police.

    Before the reunion, Radich was searching for Yana, a small Havanese, sharing photos of Yana online and posting flyers near her apartment, as well as nearby busy areas like bus stops and metro stations.

    “I put the $5,000 reward on it, because, like, this is my child,” Radich told WTOP earlier on Sunday. “I’m going to get her back.”

    Prince George’s County police have said they’re investigating the reported armed robbery.

    What happened

    Before leaving for a trip, Sophia Radich said she took her dog, Yana, for a walk outside of her apartment building. That’s when she said two suspects approached her from behind.

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    Surveillance camera footage captures an armed dognapping in Chillum, Md.

    Footage from a neighbor’s Ring camera shows the scene where one suspect, wearing a ski mask, demanded she hand over her dog — Yana, a small Havanese.

    “I thought he was pulling a prank or something,” Radich told WTOP, adding that she believed the suspects appeared to be kids or teens.

    The masked suspect tried to take the dog’s leash from Radich, who pulled the leash back. He then pulled out a gun and held it to the dog owner’s head, she said.

    “He’s yanking her so hard that, like, it’s pulling on her neck,” Radich said. “He was carrying her, basically by her neck, by the leash. So I let go, so she wasn’t strangled.”

    The masked suspect continued to point a gun at her while running away. Radich said when she tried to call 911, the second suspect chased after her.

    “I don’t want my dog in danger ever, so if that means they had to take her to not kill me, so be it,” she said.

    Radich said she tripped and that suspect got “on top of me trying to get my phone.” He ran off after she called for help and fought back.

    “I was horrified — 7 a.m., broad daylight like that,” she said.

    Radich said the suspects left in a black vehicle.

    Police haven’t placed an official lookout on a vehicle.

    Police are asking anyone with information to contact the department.

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    Mike Murillo

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