Thousands of soldiers patrol US capital, but court records show limited involvement in arrests and serious criminal incidents
WASHINGTON: Thousands of National Guard troops deployed across Washington under President Donald Trump’s anti-crime initiative have played only a limited role in law enforcement, according to a Reuters review of court records.
Trump deployed troops to the capital last year, presenting their presence as a central element of his campaign to reduce crime. Around 4,500 soldiers currently patrol monuments, subway stations, entertainment districts and other public areas, outnumbering Washington’s roughly 3,200 police officers.
However, Reuters found references to National Guard personnel in only about 1.3% of criminal cases filed in the District of Columbia Superior Court since their deployment began.
Troops Mostly Encounter Minor Offences
The review identified 217 criminal cases involving National Guard personnel. Soldiers independently detained suspects in 62 cases and assisted police with arrests in another 43.
Moreover, many incidents involved relatively minor offences, including shoplifting, fare evasion and low-value theft. In 35 cases, troops witnessed alleged crimes but largely waited for police officers to intervene.
Although authorities have deputised guardsmen as US Marshals, their policing powers remain limited. They can detain suspects but generally require police officers to make formal arrests.
Meanwhile, troops themselves became alleged crime victims in 62 cases involving threats, assaults or other confrontations.
Deployment Concentrated in Safer Areas
Reuters found that soldiers appeared more frequently in court records from wealthier and generally safer parts of Washington than from neighbourhoods experiencing the highest levels of deadly violence.
The review found no court-record evidence of National Guard law-enforcement involvement in neighbourhoods accounting for about 82% of Washington’s 859 murders during the previous five years.
Furthermore, violent crime reported between January and mid-August was around 4% higher than during the corresponding period last year, despite homicides declining.
The White House maintains that Trump’s broader security measures have reduced crime and improved quality of life.
However, critics argue that soldiers lack appropriate policing training and cost taxpayers substantially more than conventional law-enforcement personnel.
