National Guard May Help Police Patrol D.C. Streets
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WASHINGTON — President Clinton said Friday he would consider allowing the District of Columbia to call up National Guard troops to fight urban violence and said he’s “very sympathetic” to the city’s burgeoning crime problem.
Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly plans to ask Clinton for the same power as the nation’s governors to call up the guard when she unveils a new crime-fighting plan this week, her office said.
“I think it should be reviewed,” Clinton said during a morning photo session. “I’ve given a lot of thought to it, and I’ve asked our legal counsel to get with the Justice Department and look into the legality of it and what the legal hurdles and also what the practical problems are.”
Mayoral spokesman Vada Manager said that under Kelly’s proposal, members of the guard would join police officers in patrolling city streets.
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