| Chairman Linda
W. Cropp at the request of the Mayor
A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
To amend the Manual of the Metropolitan Police
Department of the District of Columbia, effective January 14, 1972 (Reg.
72-2; DCMR) "Regulation Enacting the Police Manual for the District
of Columbia," to authorize the Chief of Police to determine the
circumstances under which off-duty members of the Metropolitan Police
Department must carry their service firearms.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA,
That this act may be cited as the "Off-Duty
Service Firearm Authorization Amendment Act of 2001".
Sec. 2. Section 2.3:1 of the "Regulation
Enacting the Police Manual for the District of Columbia", effective
January 14, 1972 (Reg. 72-2; 6A DCMR 206.1), is amended to read as
follows:
"A member of the force, when off duty any place
in the District of Columbia, shall carry his or her badge and
identification card and service firearm except in his or her residence and
as the Chief of Police may designate."
Sec. 3. This act will have no direct fiscal impact.
Sec. 4. This act shall take effect following
approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the
Council to override the veto, and approval by the Financial Responsibility
and Management Assistance Authority as provided in section 203(a) of the
District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance
Act of 1995, approved April 17, 1995 (109 Stat. 116; D.C. Code
47-392.3(a)), and a 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in
section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved
December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Code § 1-233(c) (1)) and
publication in the District of Columbia Register.
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"Off-Duty Service Firearm Authorization Amendment Act of
2001"
Section-By-Section Analysis
Preamble
Metropolitan Police Department officers are required
to carry their weapons at all times while in the District of Columbia.
However, there are some off-duty situations where carrying a weapon may
prove unnecessary or imprudent. Some of these situations include
attendance at religious services, events where in-house, armed security is
present, or social functions where alcohol is consumed by officers and
weapons cannot be secured in accordance with Departmental policy.
Exempting off-duty officers from the requirement that they be armed at all
times while in the District will provide them with opportunities to
comfortably engage in family, religious, and social activities where the
presence of firearms may be ill-advised. In addition, there is great
concern over the need to eliminate instances where members could become
the unfortunate victims of friendly fire. The preamble sets forth the
short title of the bill.
Section 2
Section 2 amends the Regulation Enacting the Police
Manual for the District of Columbia to provide that the Chief of Police
shall determine under what circumstances off-duty officers are exempt from
the requirement of carrying his or her firearm.
Section 3
Section 3 indicates that the act will have no direct
fiscal impact.
Section 4
Establishes the effective date of this act. |
