Black Lives Matter-backing DC mayor to hire 170 more police officers after violent crime surge

Violent crimes in Washington, D.C., made national headlines in the past two weeks when there was a drive-by shooting outside Nationals Park, which injured three people. There was another shooting that killed 6-year-old Nyiah Courtney. The tragic shootings punctuated a rising tide of violence in the nation's capital. This week, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) announced that she plans to add 170 police officers to combat the increase in violent crimes, despite being a strong supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement that wants to defund the police.

Bowser released a statement on Wednesday that said the city plans to hire 170 additional Metropolitan Police Department officers by 2022.

Until the Metropolitan Police Department can hire and train the new officers, Bowser "directed MPD to use any overtime necessary to meet our public safety demands." 

"But we know that is not a complete solution or the right long-term solution," Bowser said. "We also know we need all of our officers to be fresh, rested, and in the best position to make good decisions – and that requires having a full force to meet all of our community's needs."