FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 18, 2024
Contact: Samantha Manning, Communications Director
COUNCILMEMBER PINTO’S PUBLIC SAFETY LEGISLATION AND OVERSIGHT HELPED KEEP DC RESIDENTS SAFER IN 2024
Washington, DC – Councilmember Brooke Pinto announces major end of year improvements in public safety for District residents after spending all year focused on driving down crime, advancing safety legislation, and increasing oversight of the District’s 911 call center and violence interruption efforts. As a result, the District is seeing success in all categories: violent crime is the lowest the District has had on record in 20 years, the Office of Unified Communications (OUC) has improved staffing, accuracy, and speed, and the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) has new permanent leadership.
As Chairwoman of the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety, Councilmember Pinto is proud to have collaborated with District residents, community stakeholders, the Executive, and her colleagues to be ending the year with a much safer and efficient District of Columbia than when the year began. Today, the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety (“the Committee”) voted to adopt the Council Period Activity Report reviewing the extensive legislative and oversight work of the Committee, which led to improvements in public safety across the District.
“From day one as Chairwoman of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, my focus for the Committee has been clear: improve safety and security for all District residents, workers, businesses, and visitors by collaborating with the community and other District leaders and agencies,” said Councilmember Pinto.
“My landmark legislation Secure DC and consistent oversight work helped close critical gaps in the District’s criminal legal system and public safety infrastructure by enhancing prevention efforts and ending cycles of violence, ensuring accountability for crime, and strengthening government coordination across all eight wards. And as a result of our collaborative and consistent partnership, the District is ending the year with the lowest amount of violent crime we have seen in over 20 years. The ongoing work to keep DC residents and visitors safe continues.”
Violent crime is down 35 percent from last year, property crime dropped 11 percent, and 911 call service speed and accuracy has significantly improved. This major shift follows Council’s passage of Chairwoman Pinto’s historic Secure DC Omnibus in March and her focus on oversight.
Chairwoman Pinto’s oversight of OUC, which operates the District’s 911 call center, has resulted in substantial improvements in operations. Residents and visitors are now experiencing faster, more accurate and reliable services when calling 911 for an emergency. Councilmember Pinto led monthly OUC oversight hearings, and the Committee conducted biweekly unannounced visits to OUC in conjunction with regularly check ins and data review with the agency.
As a result of these OUC oversight actions:
Councilmember Pinto also conducted extensive oversight of ONSE, including a series of roundtables on the District’sviolence reduction efforts to examine the effectiveness of violence intervention programs, address grant management challenges, and improve interagency coordination. The Committee is thrilled to end the year with a new permanent Director of ONSE, Kwelli Sneed, and commitments to bring grant management and fiduciary follow up and data collection in house.
“No matter what neighborhood you live in, work in, or visit, you have the right to be safe in our city. I know that the work continues in 2025 to ensure this reality is true for everyone”, said Councilmember Pinto. “I remain ever optimistic that through thoughtful problem solving, commitment to collaboration, and indefatigable work ethic collectively across our government and communities, that we can drive towards a city where we can all be safe and live in peace.”
You can review the full Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety Activity Report here.
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