Chief Newsham has to go

For Immediate Release:
July 9, 2020
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, mnocella@dccouncil.us, 202.286.1987

Chief Newsham has to go

Statement of At-Large Councilmember David Grosso

Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement from Councilmember David Grosso regarding the letter he sent to Mayor Muriel Bowser formally requesting her to relieve Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham of his position:

“Police impunity has persisted for too long, including right here in the District of Columbia. Earlier this week, the Council took what I hope is only a first step into reforming, reimagining, and ultimately dismantling the police department as we know it today. The Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Second Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 is an effort to hold individual police officers more accountable for their misconduct than we have in the past. However, D.C. has needed a culture shift at the Metropolitan Police Department for years now, one that requires us to demand more accountability of the police leadership that enables this misconduct. In order for D.C. to move forward on this reform, Chief Newsham needs to go.

“Chief Newsham has regularly engaged in an adversarial, rather than collaborative, relationship with the Council, even on piecemeal reforms. If we were to judge the bill and annual budget the Council passed based on the reaction of the Chief of Police, as well as the mayor, you would think we were firing half the officers in the city. The Chief has insulted the Council, Councilmember Allen in particular, and implied that this bill will increase crime and police brutality. A less generous reading of his comments may view them as threats.

“The recent demonstrations on our streets are a direct response to policing not only in the United States, but specifically about how MPD is managed and conducts itself in the District of Columbia. As I wrote to the Mayor, Chief Newsham pushes an outdated tough on crime approach to policing that results in violence and harassment of untold numbers of people, mostly Black, across our city. Meanwhile, crime keeps increasing. He has been responsible for thousands of illegal arrests and has cost our city millions in settlements. He has shown his contempt for protestors from Pershing Park to the 2017 Inauguration to Black Lives Matter Plaza, where he continues to direct police to attack demonstrators, using tear gas and violence in direct contradiction of the law we passed just weeks ago.

“While I noted many of these problems when the Chief was first appointed, and I voted against him, I hoped I would be proven wrong. All of the evidence, including this week’s credible revelation that he has misrepresented MPD’s involvement in the June 1 police attack on protestors, shows that, unfortunately, I was not. With whatever shred of confidence I had left for him now squandered, the time has come for new leadership at MPD.”

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You can read the letter to the Mayor here and below:

Letter to Mayor Bowser Re MPD Chief by Team_Grosso on Scribd

Councilmember Grosso files resolution to disapprove school security contract administered by MPD

For Immediate Release:
June 19, 2020
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, mnocella@dccouncil.us, 202.286.1987

Councilmember Grosso files resolution to disapprove school security contract administered by MPD

Washington, D.C. – Councilmember David Grosso, chairperson of the Committee on Education, today filed a resolution to disapprove D.C. Public School’s security contract with Security Assurance Management, Inc. which is administered by the Metropolitan Police Department.

“The District of Columbia, along with the rest of the nation, is re-examining the role of police in all aspects of our lives, including in our children’s schools. Currently, DCPS has one counselor for every 408 students. It has one psychologist for every 402 students and has one DCPS hired social worker for every 217 students. On the other hand, there is 1 security officer or special police officer for every 129 students. To me it appears as if we are more interested in policing our students than we are in ensuring their academic success,” said Grosso. “I am in active conversations with education leaders on how we move schools forward and better utilize the funding for this contract to invest in and support our students. The disapproval resolution allows the Committee on Education and the Council to continue those conversations throughout the remainder of the budget process.”

Councilmembers Robert White and Charles Allen, both members of the Committee on Education, along with Councilmembers Brianne Nadeau and Kenyan McDuffie, joined Grosso in introducing the disapproval resolution.

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Councilmember Grosso to offer amendments to demilitarize and reduce MPD

For Immediate Release:
June 8, 2020
 
Contact:
Matthew Nocella, mnocella@dccouncil.us, 202.286.1987

Councilmember Grosso to offer amendments to demilitarize and reduce MPD

Washington, D.C. – The following is a statement from Councilmember David Grosso who will offer several amendments to the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 that will begin the demilitarization and reduction of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in the wake of sustained protests in the District of Columbia and across the globe: 

“The past few weeks were another painful moment in the long history of white supremacy and police brutality that have plagued our nation since its founding. The protests in cities across the world have called out for police reform and I applaud Councilmember Charles Allen and the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety for their quick work among all that is going on to be responsive to community demands and pull this package together. My concern, though, is that the bill does not go far enough to fundamentally alter the dynamics of policing in the District of Columbia.

 “Last week, we were all furious and unnerved by the occupation of the District of Columbia with the non-consensual deployment of federal troops and unmarked officers to our city streets, as well as the conduct of our own police department on Swann Street NW. For many of our residents, every day feels like an occupation because of how the police operate in their communities.

“The over policing of our communities and militarization of our police force must end.

“Tomorrow, I will propose four amendments. The first three will seek to reduce the use of military-style equipment and tactics by the police. The first would prohibit use of tear gas and other chemical agents on protesters, in accordance with permanent legislation introduced last week by Councilmember Brianne Nadeau. The second would further demilitarize the police by prohibiting use of rubber bullets and limiting the use of riot gear at demonstrations. Third, I’m proposing a ban on MPD participating in trainings with entities that practice discrimination or with any military or intelligence agency.

“The final amendment would limit MPD to a sworn officer force of 3,500. D.C. currently has 3,863 sworn officers, approximately 55 per 10,000 residents. That’s double the national average and well above other cities of its size or larger. D.C. would still lead the pack of similar cities with 50 officers per 10,000 residents under this new limit.”

“Even with these amendments the work will be incomplete. Police departments across the nation have grown too large and are relied upon for far too many of the issues that face our residents.  Mental health. Homelessness. Substance abuse. Student discipline. This is the result of decades of failure by elected officials to solve non-violent issues in our communities without the police. I’m committed to making changes in the mayor’s budget proposal currently before the Council that will divert funding for the police in favor of investments in making our communities safe through greater economic security and strong social services. I will work with my colleagues to make that happen.”

“I had also planned to offer an amendment to tomorrow’s legislation to end stop-and-frisk, but have withheld that action for now in response to community requests. I will instead work with advocates and community members making the demands for changes to stop-and-frisk, as well as my colleagues, to introduce stand-alone emergency legislation on the topic at the next legislative meeting of the Council.”

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