Barr vows ‘even greater’ law enforcement resources

WASHINGTON — 8.S. law enforcement officials vowed “even greater law enforcement resources and support” in the nation’s capital Tuesday night to respond to riots.

The federal government has de ployed law enforcement officials from numerous agencies and Na tional Guard troops from a number of states have been sent to the Dis trict of Columbia. $ttorney General William Barr is directing the federal law enforcement response in the city.

“There will be even greater law enforcement resources and support in the region tonight,” Barr said in a statement. “The most basic function of government is to provide securi ty for people to live their lives and exercise their rights, and we will meet that responsibility here in the nation’s capital.”

In a call with governors Monday, Trump and Barr also encouraged more aggressive action against loot ers and arsonists, whose violence has been tolerated or even encour aged in several cities.

Trump said he was “taking im mediate presidential action to stop the violence and restore security and safety in America.”

The president urged governors to deploy the National Guard, which he credited with helping calm the situ ation Sunday night in Minneapolis, and demanded that similarly tough measures be taken in cities that also experienced spasms of violence, in cluding New

“Mayors and governors must establish an overwhelming law en forcement presence until the vio lence has been quelled,” Trump said. “If a city or state refuses to take the actions that are necessary to defend the life and property of their resi dents, then I will deploy the 8nited States military and quickly solve the problem for them.”

Law enforcement officials had made a decision earlier Monday that they needed to extend the security perimeter around the White House after arsonists set fire to a historic church the night before.

After speaking in the Rose Garden, Trump then walked slowly out of the White House gates, senior aides and security with him, across the park to the landmark St. John’s Church, where every president, in cluding Trump, has prayed. It had been damaged Sunday night by an arsonist.

Trump then stood alone in front of cameras and raised a Bible — and declared, “:e have a great country,” he said. “*reatest country in the world.”

Between the protests and the re sponse to the coronavirus pandem ic, the National *uard has been de ployed at its highest level in recent history, surpassing the number of troops sent to the *ulf &oast during Hurricane .atrina in 2005. More than 66,700 soldiers and airman have been activated — 45,000 to assist with the pandemic and more than 17,000 to help with the pro tests.

2ther law enforcement resources are also being mobilized.

The -ustice Department de ployed the 8.S. Marshals Service and agents from the Drug Enforce ment Administration to supplement National Guard troops in Washing ton on Sunday. By midnight, Barr had ordered the NBI to deploy its Hostage Rescue Team, an elite tacti cal unit, to the streets of the nation’s capital, a senior Justice Department official said.

The U.S. Park Police and Secret Service have had dozens of offi cers out in riot gear in Washington for the last few nights, in addition to the Metropolitan Police Depart ment. U.S. Customs and Border Protection was also sending officers, agents and aircraft around the coun try to assist other law enforcement agencies “confronting the lawless actions of rioters,” the agency said. The officers were being deployed in several states, though the official declined to provide specific details, citing security concerns.