Norton Asks for Funding, Flexibility for Park Police and Capitol Police for Public Safety in Nation’s Capital

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today sent a letter to House and Senate appropriators to inform them of her findings from recent meetings with Capitol Police, U.S. Park Police, and Federal Protective Service (FPS) officials regarding concerns that sequestration cuts to federal police could jeopardize public safety in the nation's capital in light of new risks raised by the Boston Marathon bombings. Norton was particularly concerned about the Park Police, which is tasked with protecting a disproportionately large area of the city and surrounding area and is the principal federal agency for policing outdoor events in the nation's capital.

In light of her meetings, Norton made two requests to the appropriators. First, concerned about this year's post-Boston risks to public safety at the many upcoming mass attraction outdoor events, Norton asked that Park Police and Capitol Police be given flexibility this fiscal year to avoid furloughs. Second, recognizing that the sequester cuts continue for nine years, she asked that for fiscal year 2014, the appropriators fund the federal police forces so as to avoid furloughs as well as the highly disruptive changes in tours of duty that can affect not only police but their families and children and public safety alike.

Norton's letter raised many issues about the Park Police and Capitol Police. Among them, she noted, "Aside from the Secret Service, the Park Police are the only federal police with citywide jurisdiction," as well as jurisdiction in vast areas throughout the Washington region. Norton continued, "every Park Police employee, from the chief down, is being furloughed…[although] Park Police have the major responsibility for the largest outdoor events in the nation's capital… Park Police, a unit of the National Park Service, is furloughing every employee, but NPS plans no furloughs, although Park Police are essential personnel. There appears to be no valid reason why the entire burden of sequester cuts should fall on essential personnel." Among new questions raised about the Capitol Police, she noted, to avoid furloughs and overtime, they are using "abrupt changes in tours of duty [that] also disrupt the hours and lives of family members."

The full text of Norton's letter follows.

Dear Chairwoman Shaheen and Chairmen Alexander, Simpson, and Reed:

Following the tragic loss of life and the injuries at the Boston Marathon, I became concerned that budget cuts underway in federal police protection in the nation's capital could affect public safety. My concern was heightened when it was reported that police protection for the London Marathon was increased by 40 percent after Boston. We are now well into the tourist season in the nation's capital, when millions of additional visitors come here and participate in outdoor activities designed to draw crowds. Among them are multiple marathons, marches, rallies, outdoor entertainment, major commemorations, particularly Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, and other large events.

I have therefore held meetings with three federal police forces and their employees – the Capitol Police, United States Park Police, and Federal Protective Service (FPS) – that protect visitors, officials, residents, and federal sites here. All three police agencies are undergoing across-the-board sequester cuts. Because the FPS is a fee-based agency serving other federal agencies and performing security functions, FPS has not been as affected as the others. However, both the Park Police and the Capitol Police have been significantly affected in ways that could compromise public safety. The budgets of both primarily fund essential personnel, with very little going to administration costs.

U.S. Park Police

The effect of sequester cuts on the Park Police creates the greatest risk. Aside from the Secret Service, the Park Police are the only federal police with citywide jurisdiction. In fact, Park Police jurisdiction encompasses large areas well beyond the nation's capital, including the city of Alexandria, and Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Price William and Stafford counties in Virginia, and Prince George's, Charles, Anne Arundel, and Montgomery counties in Maryland. In the nation's capital, Park Police are charged with public safety not only for the National Mall, but for National Park Service (NPS) parks throughout the District of Columbia, including the over 2,100-acre Rock Creek Park.

To meet its required sequester cuts, every Park Police employee, from the chief down, is being furloughed. The Park Police expect at least 112-196 furloughed hours per officer. Although Park Police are the only helicopter pilots with clearances to fly throughout the city, they are now available only for medical emergencies and for the president.

At large mall events, Park Police will be responsible for the crowds at the National Mall from 3rd Street to the Lincoln Memorial, in addition to their responsibility for Rolling Thunder, and the major share of responsibility for virtually all other major outdoor events, such as the Marine Corps Marathon, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the Cherry Blossom Festival, and marches along Constitution Avenue.

Two years ago the entire area Park Police cover on the Mall was screened, maximizing safety but requiring maximum police presence. However, last year, because of cost, only the grounds between 3rd Street and 14th Street were screened. Considering the Boston tragedy, screening again becomes an important consideration.

Park Police have the major responsibility for the largest outdoor events in the nation's capital. The burden of sequester cuts means huge changes at work and home for officers, well beyond what other federal employees face. Even doing all they can, some important posts will be uncovered if Park Police are to meet their maximum coverage requirements. Particularly, I ask that the Appropriations committees consider why the Park Police, a unit of NPS, is furloughing every employee, but NPS has no plans to furlough any other employees even though Park Police are essential personnel. There appears to be no valid reason why the entire burden of sequester cuts should fall on essential personnel.

U.S. Capitol Police

The Capitol Police are significantly affected by sequester cuts. To meet its public safety responsibilities, Capitol Police do not plan on furloughing police. Instead, Capitol Police are closing some Capitol complex entrances and changing tours of duty, sometimes with considerable hardships on the officers and their families. Questions remain concerning Capitol Police plans. For example, an unarmed civilian was assigned to the Virginia Avenue kiosk access point to the Capitol campus until there was a complaint. The Capitol Police training facility in Cheltenham, Maryland, has no new students to train. Therefore, the number of classes there is significantly reduced. However, there is no indication that there has been a corresponding reduction in the number of officers at the facility. It is not clear that these officers have been reassigned to relieve line officers facing burdensome changes in tours of duty. There are questions whether supervisors are available to be used on the streets to relieve some of the burden from line officers. It is not clear why, to avoid overtime, tours of duty could not be changed from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., which would permit all tours to end during officers' normal shift. Also, it appears that unlike the lower ranks, management hours have been maintained. In addition, officers at the rank of inspector and some civilians continue to take vehicles home.

Abrupt changes in tours of duty also disrupt the hours and lives of family members. For example, a mother worked midnights while her school-teacher husband was at home for the children after school. A change of her tours of duty will mean finding daycare for her children unless Capitol Police excuse her.

First, I ask that you examine the existing authority to reprogram funds for the current fiscal year and to make adjustments if necessary, considering the clear public safety concerns this year. Second, while I am not requesting an increase in the number of police, I am asking that Park Police and the Capitol Police be funded so as to avoid furloughs and the highly disruptive changes in tours of duty.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton

May 22, 2013