The head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Terry Cole, who is now also overseeing the DC police, shared details regarding the Trump administration’s “unified effort” to decrease violent crime in the capital during a meeting with the police chief on Tuesday.

“We cannot afford to ignore this issue,” Cole stated on “The Story.” “We are experiencing tremendous cooperation and information sharing, and what’s particularly promising is that the police are eager to engage in their roles again.”

On Monday, President Donald Trump federalized the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) of Washington, DC. This action allows federal agencies and the National Guard to oversee local police activities, although they are not permitted to make arrests themselves.

On Monday night, 850 National Guard officers patrolled the streets of the capital. 

Cole touted the arrests that followed Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement. 

“Just in the last two days, we’ve had 60 arrests that are very impactful. We’ve taken 17 firearms off the streets. Last night, we arrested somebody that was wanted for a murder,” he shared.

The DEA administrator went on to clarify how federal agents will work “hand in hand” with MPD.

“Starting tonight, we will be embedded with the Metropolitan Police Department,” Cole announced. “You will also see an increase of activity, patrol activity in certain sectors, to go after the violent criminal offenders that are the drivers of this crime.”

As Democratic critics of the federal takeover cite statistics of violent crime being at a “30-year low” in the nation’s capital, Cole insists people “do not feel safe,” and police officers “do not feel empowered.”

It is “frustrating” for police to come across repeat youth offenders with guns, Cole lamented.

While the Trump administration would need to “change the code” to hold even juveniles accountable, Cole said federal agents are eager to help support DC’s law enforcement.

“I think that there’s a lot of dynamics with the DC City Council that are concerning,” Cole noted. “I’ve been receiving phone calls from all over the country of other federal agents that wanna fly in and help. They wanna be part of making DC safe again.”