New Patrol Plan Emerges After Deadly Shooting
Washington DC officials are weighing a proposal to place National Guard troops on joint patrols with local law enforcement, according to an email obtained by the Washington Post. The consideration comes just two days after two Guard members were shot in the city, one fatally.
The message, circulated among district leadership, described the situation as “fluid” and noted that adjustments to the plan could still be made. If implemented, the shift would mark the most significant change in Guard deployment strategy since troops were assigned to the district in August.
Concerns Over Changing Guard Deployment
The Trump administration has repeatedly credited the Guard’s presence with reducing violent crime, including murders and assaults, by allowing DC police to redirect resources to other priorities. Placing Guard members directly alongside officers, however, could undermine that strategy by altering how personnel are distributed across the city.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department said only that law enforcement agencies were working in “close coordination” with the National Guard to maintain public safety, without confirming whether new patrols had begun.
Troop Levels Rise as Investigation Intensifies
Roughly 2,000 National Guard troops are currently deployed in Washington DC under Trump’s “Safe and Beautiful Task Force.” Guard members, while trained for federal and state missions, do not receive the same policing instruction as city officers.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that an additional 500 Guard troops would be sent to the capital following the attack that left Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom dead and Andrew Wolfe injured. Prosecutors have upgraded charges against the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, to first-degree murder.
Uncertain Next Steps for Public Safety Strategy
City leaders are now navigating how to balance heightened security demands with operational concerns about the Guard’s evolving role. As investigations continue and officials evaluate patrol strategies, the district’s law enforcement posture remains in flux.