Washington retains control of its police force, local officials say
Share and Follow


() Officials in Washington, D.C., claimed victory Friday after a judge blocked the Trump administration from appointing a federal official to take over the local police department as the White House rolls out a law enforcement crackdown in the nation’s capital.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi had issued an order that sought to give DEA Administrator Terry Cole control of the District of Columbia’s police force of 3,200 officers on an emergency basis.

“A hostile takeover of our police force is not going to happen. Chief [Pamela] Smith remains in control of the police department under the supervision of our mayor,” Washington D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said at a news conference with Mayor Muriel Bowser.

Schwalb legally challenged the Trump administration’s takeover of the police department, saying it violated D.C.’s home-rule charter.

Local officials reportedly are working with the Trump administration on other details of Bondi’s order in hopes of reaching an agreement.

The Trump administration’s efforts to beef up security in Washington, D.C., followed the president’s public complaints that crime was out of control in the District of Columbia.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
I was raised as a girl - but at 19, my world was shattered

Raised as a Girl, My World Transformed at 19

Kristi Ambrose’s childhood in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, mirrored that of many other…
Air Force One returning to Joint Base Andrews in Washington area due to minor electrical issue, White House says

Air Force One Makes Unexpected Return to Joint Base Andrews: White House Addresses Minor Electrical Glitch

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s aircraft, Air Force One, is making its…
Dispatch records from Brown University shooting capture chaos of deadly campus attack

Brown University Welcomes Students Back as Concerns Arise Over Security Policies Following Mass Shooting

Brown University is set to commence a new semester on Wednesday, amid…
Prosecutor Bianca Pucci speaks as Nathan Chasing Horse appears in court for his trial on charges of sexually abusing Indigenous women and girls Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Opening Statements Commence in Sexual Assault Trial of ‘Dances With Wolves’ Actor Nathan Chasing Horse

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Prosecutors allege that Nathan Chasing Horse leveraged his…
Air Force One returns to Washington area due to minor electrical issue, White House says

Air Force One Makes Unscheduled Landing Near Washington Due to Minor Electrical Glitch: White House Update

President Donald Trump will switch planes and proceed with his journey to…
Is there more to Macron's sunnies than meets the eye?

What’s Behind Macron’s Choice of Sunglasses? An In-depth Look

Social media has been abuzz with conspiracy theories following the unusual appearance…
Trump halts tariffs after dramatic breakthrough in Greenland deal

Trump Suspends Tariffs Following Landmark Agreement in Greenland Trade Negotiations

In a surprising move, Donald Trump’s plan for Greenland includes acquiring “small…
Trial of NJ tech boss accused of murdering brother takes ‘Sopranos’-like turn

NJ Tech Executive’s Murder Trial Unveils Shocking ‘Sopranos’-Style Twist

A sound he couldn’t ignore reverberated in his mind. The courtroom drama…