In Virtual Testimony Late Last Month.pdf

Robert J. Contee, III, Chief of Police for the Metropolitan Police Department, testified before the Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety, Council of the District of Columbia, on February 23, 2023. He discussed public safety concerns, acknowledging that many people in the community do not feel safe despite a historic low in violent crime. Contee's top concern is the possession and use of illegal guns, with a 2% decrease in fatal and non-fatal shootings in 2022, but a 30% increase over the past three years. He also highlighted a 14% increase in carjackings, with more than two-thirds of arrests being juveniles. Contee emphasized the need for laws and the criminal justice system to treat gun crimes seriously, citing a study that found firearms offenders recidivate at a higher rate. He expressed concern about the type of guns being used, including untraceable "ghost guns" and modified guns with Glock switches. Contee also discussed the victimization and involvement of youth in serious crime, with an 81% increase in the number of youth shot in 2022. He noted that arrests of juveniles increased 13%, driven by increases in robbery and weapons charges. Contee called for serious consideration of proposed legislation to address illegal gun trafficking and expressed hope for a safer District of Columbia.