Op-ed views and opinions expressed are solely those of the author.

The law enforcement veteran and InVest USA founder discusses two crucial bills that could finally give police officers some ease – even if everyone’s not crazy about them.

Do you want to know why President Donald Trump felt the need to deploy the National Guard in Washington, D.C., earlier this year? And why has he considered similar action for cities like Chicago and Portland? It’s easy.

Because they don’t know how to handle crime.

That’s not a knock on police in the least. Their police forces are doing everything they can to keep criminals at bay. However, state Democrats often put strict rules in place, making it all too easy for people of this type to slip out of custody and return to the streets so they can commit a crime once again.

However, the signing of two new bills points to a supportive new direction for police – at last! Well, in Washington, D.C., at least.

Two crucial bills managed to pass the House this past week that could reshape D.C. police as we know it – and, hopefully, set a precedent that other states will soon follow.

The first bill, the District of Columbia Cash Bail Reform Act (H.R. 5214), will put an end to the city’s no-cash bail, instead replacing it with cash bail. This is absolutely necessary, as select criminals have used no-cash bail as a loophole to allow them to get back on the streets. And, based on violent history, they’re back in jail in no time. No cash bail makes an absolute difference in cases such as this.

“For far too long, dangerous criminals have been allowed to roam the streets of Washington, D.C., posing a threat to the general public, and progressive liberal judges are currently allowed to release them,” House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) said.

Absolutely agree with this. But I think it’s the second bill that supports police officers even more.

It’s the Common-Sense Law Enforcement and Accountability Now In D.C. Act (HR 5107), also known as the Clean D.C. Act. It removes several restrictions that prevent the D.C. Metro Police from doing their job. This includes limits on chokeholds, implementing rules on the use of bodycams, and police accountability. Many Republicans believe these particular restrictions led to the increase in crime within the city last year – and they’re absolutely right.

With these bills passed, we’ll see some changes with the D.C. police for the better. And, again, I’d really like to see other cities pick up on these.

But, surprise, some Democrats just aren’t on board. Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA) believes that it’s a mistake for the House to be passing bills such as these. “The people best positioned to make decisions about local policies in their local communities are local leaders, after you listen to the local community.”

To which I respond, “So what happens is the local leaders are incapable of making the right decisions for said community?” Because we’ve seen it so often in the past, with leaders choosing to follow their idea of regulation, compared to what the police should be doing against criminals. It never works.

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) added to the conversation. “Tonight’s votes are yet another example demonstrating that House Republicans, elected to represent far-away districts, are more interested in forcing their will on D.C. residents than in representing the interests of their own constituents,” she said.

My response? “Well, maybe if you were doing your job in the first place and not placing such restrictions on your police officers in the first place, Trump wouldn’t have needed to take action.”

It’s just excuse-making. That’s all it is. Republicans are pushing to get things done against police reform and, for that matter, no-cash bail, and all the Democrats want to do is point fingers. Forward progress should always be appreciated, especially when it comes to taking care of the men and women in blue.

I think Cully Stimson of The Heritage Foundation puts it best when it comes to police reform that has been put in place following the death of George Floyd in 2020. “These weren’t police reforms. These are police ‘de-forms’ when you don’t let police chase after suspects when they commit crimes right in front of their very face.”

Exactly. Let the police do their job. I’m glad that the House is finally allowing some to do that, and I hope others follow suit. It’s time to stop criminals and avoid letting them slip away.

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Michael Letts

Michael A. Letts, Founder, President, and CEO of In-Vest USA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bullet-proof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs.

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• Here’s a huge example as to why New York needs to do away with its bail reform laws - November 10, 2025

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