Immigrants without U.S. citizenship will soon be able to get badges and guns, and authorized to arrest Americans in the nation’s capital, as the city’s Police Department (DC MPD) struggles to recruit and retain police officers. New hires, including non-citizen green card holders, will even be offered up to $25,000 in signing bonuses.
“As an agency, we truly believe that a workforce that represents our community brings a variety of ideas, experiences, and perspectives. Together, this blend drives innovation and growth,” said Ashan Benedict, Interim Chief of Police, whose own parents are Sri Lankan immigrants.
“This step marks a significant milestone in our journey, as we look forward to welcoming a more diverse pool of applicants.”
– Ashan Benedict, Interim Chief of Police, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department
While Benedict’s statement makes the move to recruit foreigners with green cards sound like a tech industry diversity and innovation initiative, it is more likely a response to the fact that the D.C. force’s manpower has collapsed to just 3,400 officers.