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Dozens of DC area Police Departments Refuse To Help Secure Inauguration


If it isn’t one thing, it’s another — sometimes it just seems like that’s how it goes.

Concern for the safety of President Trump and thousands of inaugural attendees amassing in the Capital on Monday has been in the forefront of all our minds for months now.

Yesterday we learned that the President made the decision to move the viewing of the swearing-in ceremony indoors, inside the Capitol rotunda.

There were likely multiple reasons for that move, including security concerns and weather, as President Trump pointed to in yesterday’s statement.

But now it seems there may have been another factor playing in to that decision.

Apparently more than a dozen Police Departments in the DC area which historically play a role in securing the Capital during Presidential inaugurations are choosing not to assist with security on Monday.

Here’s the full text of the above post:

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Reports are emerging that more than a dozen local police departments have refused to help DC police guard President Trump’s inauguration.

This is likely why the ceremony is getting moved inside.

“I was just told that based on the current memorandum of understanding, we will not be assisting Metro PD,” a spokesperson for Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland to the Daily Caller.

HOW SAD & PATHETHIC?

Though the refusal to take part comes at a moment of high political tensions, it doesn’t seem as though politics — at least not Presidential politics — played the majority role in the decision this time.

The reason allegedly stems from “MOU”, or Memorandum of Understanding which serves as the agreement between departments on unified protocol.

There doesn’t seem to be “unified protocol”, which is the issue at hand.

Apparently the DC Police have backed away from certain use of force measures which other departments still adhere to, according to a report in the Daily Caller:

More than half a dozen local D.C.-area police departments will not be assisting Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) with security for the 2025 Presidential Inauguration, the Daily Caller has learned. The MPD has been lambasted by both progressives and conservatives for its methods of policing, and the department refused to answer several questions from the Caller.

The decision by these departments could leave MPD with hundreds fewer officers than they would typically be able to rely on for an event of this magnitude.

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While MPD claimed thousands of officers will assist with security, several local departments told the Caller they will not be helping. Most were vague with their reasons for skipping this year’s inauguration, but one department confirmed in an email that it was because of a dispute over a memorandum of understanding (MOU), or agreement between departments, with MPD.

“I was just told that based on the current MOU, we will not be assisting Metro PD,” a spokesperson for Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland told the Caller.

Just a few days ago, DC police announced at a press conference that nearly 4,000 police from across the nation would be volunteering to help secure the Capital on inauguration day.

Now, it seems as though part of the motivation for that announcement was to highlight those officers who would be attending and throw some shade towards those local departments choosing not to assist.

Here’s that press conference from a few days ago:

Besides the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland, multiple other local departments are forgoing assistance this year.

But as stated, it seems as though these departments have a particular issue with the Capitol Police, not the inauguration, according to the previously referenced article in the Daily Caller:

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Howard and Queen Anne’s County police departments, also from Maryland, told the Caller they will not be assisting with inauguration security, although Howard PD said it provided security in 2017. Queen Anne’s told the Caller that it would not be assisting in 2025 due to “technical difficulties.” Frederick County Sheriff’s Department will also not be assisting due to staffing reasons.

Anne Arundel County, Maryland State Police, and Prince George’s County all said they would be helping Capitol Police — but not MPD — with security. This suggests that these departments have a particular problem working with MPD, not with the inauguration itself.

Only two departments of the nine who responded to the Caller stated they would be coordinating with MPD for the inauguration. Frederick City in Maryland plans to send about 20 officers, and Loudoun County in Virginia will send around 30 deputies, according to spokespeople for the departments.

The ceremony will now be held in the rotunda, along with President Trump’s inaugural address.

The parade is also being altered, replaced with a rally of sorts in the Capital One Arena after the inaugural speech, according to a report by NBC Channel 4 in Washington:

Trump’s swearing-in ceremony will be conducted in the rotunda, where he will also deliver his inaugural address.

Then, instead of the traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, the president will join supporters at Capital One Arena after his speech.

“We will open Capital One Arena on Monday for LIVE viewing of this Historic event, and to host the Presidential Parade,” Trump posted on social media. “I will join the crowd at Capital One, after my Swearing In.”

Outdoor areas on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, which were intended for tickets guests, will now be closed to those guests Monday, Capitol police said in a statement.

The size of the redirection efforts after that last minute change in plans must be monumental.

Imagine the church picnic, planned for outdoors, suddenly moved inside because of impending rain.

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My own high school graduation was moved, last minute, from the football field to the auditorium because of lightning — and that was a huge undertaking.

But this — this must be a complete nightmare for the people who set up all those chairs outside!

At any rate, there is little doubt that the safety of the President and all who are gathering for this historic occasion is much better guarded without the parade and outside swearing-in ceremony.

Meanwhile, thousands of troops are deploying across the Capital, taking up their positions to engage any threats that may develop.

The number made available was actually closer to 8,000; but who’s counting!?

With just one day until President Trump finally takes the official reigns of American power in his hands, I am sure he would appreciate all of our prayers for not only his safety, but for all those attending, and the nation.

This isn’t over yet; it’s just beginning.

And the fact is, anything can happen.

We will be bringing you coverage of all the inauguration happenings from now until the event itself, and praying for safety as the minutes tick closer.



 

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