A burst of violence in the days before Christmas left six people dead, including one man killed by police, making it one of the most violent periods of 2014.
Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser posted an open letter on Facebook to the Petworth community, her current city council ward. Read the full letter below:
Dear Petworth,
The violence of the last few days is unacceptable – no resident should expect to live in fear in Washington, DC.
I am monitoring the situation closely and am in constant contact with Chief Lanier and Commander Manlapaz, who oversee the 4th District.
This evening, the Chief concluded the evening and committed to roll call in Ward 4, and additional foot patrols in the Ward– with a focus on well-known hot spots. Additional resources have been deployed since Christmas Eve and there are more to come.
Tonight, I will tour the Ward with the Commander to ensure deployment of resources.
On Monday, the Chief and her team will provide a full briefing to me from the MPD headquarters, where I will review their immediate action plan to stop violence before it starts.
As always, please be mindful of your surroundings and if you see something, say something.
Sincerely,
Mayor-elect Muriel Bowser
