In response to numerous inquiries regarding the FOP’s questioning the validity of MPD’s deployment related to the current threat against Washington, DC,

Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier offers the following statement:

First and foremost, you can’t put a cost on securing the Nation’s Capital. I am going to do whatever is necessary to keep our community safe. I have been heavily involved in Homeland Security for more than 10 years and have rarely seen threat streams that are both specific to Washington DC AND credible. So questioning whether this is necessary is a no-brainer.

That aside, The President of the United States includes funding for the District specifically for “response to immediate and specific terrorist threats to the District of Columbia.” It is created to avoid exactly this type of dilemma – choosing between the security of our City and cost.     

It’s unfathomable that Chairman Baumann would question the deployment of the dedicated men and women to safeguard the residents and visitors of the District of Columbia; after all we are sworn to protect and serve.

The White House released a similar statement today stating “this is not useless chatter and our vigilance will continue.”  

Cathy L. Lanier

Police Chief