Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau, Ward 1, issued the following statement following Friday night’s fatal shootings in Adams Morgan and U Street and a string of recent homicides in the ward.
“The string of shootings over the last two weeks, including the ones in Adams Morgan and U St. last night, is upsetting and devastating to our community.
“I want to express my condolences to the family and friends of the victims in last night’s shootings. And I want to let neighbors know that I share your concerns and fears, as a councilmember, a neighbor, and as the mother of two young girls who I’m raising right here in Ward 1.
“Today I spoke with Acting Police Chief Pamela A. Smith and asked her to direct additional resources to hots spots in the ward. I also spoke today with 3rd District Commander James Boteler who has been managing the response in the area and directing resources.
“If you have information about this case, please call the police at 202-727-9099 or text anonymously to 50411.
“Public safety is always a top priority for me and even more so in recent months as we’ve seen this disturbing trend throughout the District and in Ward 1. On Wednesday, I was at the very spot of last night’s shooting for a neighborhood public safety walk with Capt. Hong of the 3rd Police District.
“This week I convened a public safety meeting with MPD and other executive branch enforcement agencies for the U Street corridor in response to recent incidents there and I’m working with Chief Smith to schedule a ward-wide meeting. She has said she plans District-wide more visible presence of officers, something many of us have advocated for. There are multiple known issues in the area of last night’s shootings, and I’ve invested additional resources in our safety measures in the FY24 budget, which goes into effect in October. We are working to ramp up some of those measures before then, if possible.
“We are taking a comprehensive approach that encompasses multiple enforcement agencies – not just police – and other organizations and agencies, including mental health services, safety ambassadors, expanding the camera rebate program, and resources to address substance use disorder. I have called on the U.S. Attorney’s Office to prosecute more of the cases brought to him and want to see the District’s crime lab get more resources and get re-accredited so they can process evidence needed to prosecute. And the Council enhanced my “red flag” law as part of the recently-passed public safety bill. We have tools in our toolbox that are not being fully utilized and I continue to push for them to be used to their fullest. There are short-, medium-, and long-term solutions and we are exploring and implementing all.
“I invite the community to join me Tuesday for my second Coffee Walk, starting with coffee at Potter’s House, 1658 Columbia Rd NW at 8 am (start walking at 8:30), and my monthly Brianne on Your Block for one-on-one conversations on Thursday, 6-8 pm, at Ben’s Chili Bowl on U Street. Residents can contact my office for details.”
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