Amid rising urban violent crime, police unions are seeking federal intervention to assist local law enforcement, a move city leaders in Charlotte and Washington, D.C., have firmly rejected.
Charlotte Police Request National Guard
The Fraternal Order of Police in Charlotte’s Mecklenburg County sent a letter to city leaders on Thursday formally requesting assistance. The union cited a recent surge in violence as the reason for asking for both federal law enforcement and the National Guard.
The letter highlighted several recent tragedies, including the fatal stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on August 22nd. “[S]ince then, 15 more Charlottean’s have been gunned down in our streets,” the Charlotte-Mecklenburg FOP stated, also noting a recent double homicide and the murder of a 16-year-old. The union reported that the city’s Uptown beat is “reeling from nearly a 200% spike in homicides.“
City Officials Reject Federal Aid
Charlotte officials promptly rejected the request for federal assistance. Mayor Vi Lyles stated firmly, “[We will not need the guard to come to Charlotte.]“
This sentiment was echoed by others in the city’s government. “[These measures do not address the root causes of violence,]” said JD Mazuera Arias, a Charlotte City Council member, opposing the union’s request.
A Wider Trend: Police Unions Federal Intervention
The push for a Fraternal Order of Police federal deployment is not unique to Charlotte. The police union in Washington, D.C., and the National Police Association have also expressed support for using federal officers to combat local crime.
In Milwaukee, the Police Association leader considered asking the Trump administration for federal troops before walking back the claim after pushback.
The Washington, D.C. Precedent
Washington, D.C., received an infusion of federal law enforcement earlier in the summer. Gregg Pemberton, who leads the city’s police union, said the difference has been “‘night and day’ since the federal deployment.“
However, Mayor Muriel Bowser has pushed back against the necessity of unsolicited federal involvement, similar to the position of Vi Lyles. “[I want the message to be clear to the Congress, we have a framework to request or use federal resources in our city… We don’t need a presidential emergency,]” Bowser stated.
National Groups Support Deployments
National police organizations continue to advocate for federal assistance in other cities facing crime spikes. Sgt.
Betsy Brantner Smith, a spokesperson for the National Police Association, expressed support for the strategy. She suggested federal resources could “show the rest of the country that what happened in Washington, D.C. can work in other cities like Memphis and beyond.“
