Federal takeover of DC police sparks debate over home rule

President Trump ordered a federal takeover of Washington, D.C. police for up to 30 days and directed additional National Guard and federal agents to city streets in an effort to curb crime, a move that has been met with both support and sharp criticism as federal and local authorities work to manage a rapidly changing security situation. By midweek, a vehicle checkpoint on the 14th Street Northwest corridor drew loud protests from residents and visitors alike, while hundreds of officers patrolled key areas, and arrests were reported to have reached into the tens of dozens in the prior night.

The police checkpoint on a busy nightlife corridor became a flashpoint for demonstrators who chanted and urged drivers to avoid the checkpoint, while some shouted complaints about federal agents’ presence. The scene reflected a broader deployment that has included Drug Enforcement Administration officers on the National Mall, FBI agents along major thoroughfares, and National Guard troops stationed in and around the city. In the weeks of accompanying enforcement, authorities have reported a notable uptick in arrests over successive nights, with hundreds of federal and city officers on...