Today, Councilmember Charles Allen released the following statement responding to the planned introduction by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton to add a representative from the District of Columbia to the board with oversight of the US Capitol Police:

“I want to thank Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton for introducing this legislation that tackles one of the many areas in law enforcement where DC residents don’t have a say in matters that affect them every single day. This follows in a long line of action by the Congresswoman to protect and strengthen the District’s interests and intersections with the US Capitol Complex.

It would be one thing if the US Capitol Police were only limited to the security on the US Capitol grounds, but they are not. As just one example, the fence currently closing down both Independence and Constitution Avenues, for one, has serious implications for DC’s emergency response services. USCP also routinely engages District residents in stops or enforcement actions away from the US Capitol, again without any oversight whatsoever from local residents. Thank you again to Congresswoman Holmes Norton for taking on this issue, and I look forward to seeing a DC representative on the Capitol Police Board.”

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