By Bill Carey
Police1
WASHINGTON — Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Contee cut to the chase on how to get homicides down during a press conference with the mayor on Monday about crime in the District.
“If we really want to see homicides go down … keep bad guys with guns in jail,” Contee said.
He was asked during the press conference if he expected the Council of the District of Columbia to change its approach to crime now that homicides have risen 30% so far this year, the Washington Examiner reported.
“Right now, the average homicide suspect has been arrested 11 times prior to them committing a homicide. That is a problem,” Contee said.
The topics covered during the press conference included the city council’s failed legislation to soften penalties on violent crimes through revisions to the criminal code.
The bill would have reduced the maximum penalties for violent crimes such as burglaries, robberies and carjackings. It would also remove minimum sentences for most crimes, Fox News reported.
The bill was pulled after the U.S. House voted to block it and President Biden said he would not veto Congress’ decision