Thousands of National Guard soldiers have been deployed across Washington under President Donald Trump. But a review of court records suggests they have played a small role in fighting serious crime.
About 4,500 soldiers are now in the city. That is more than the city’s 3,200 police officers.
The troops began arriving last August as part of Trump’s plan to fight crime in the US capital. They patrol areas near tourist sites, subway stations and sports venues.
But court records show that soldiers were named in only about 1.3% of criminal cases filed in the city’s main criminal court since their arrival.
The review found 217 cases in which police reports mentioned National Guard troops.
In 62 of those cases, soldiers alone stopped people accused of crimes. Many cases involved minor acts. These included shoplifting and avoiding subway fares.
In another 43 cases, soldiers helped police make arrests.
The soldiers have also dealt with small incidents. In October, troops chased a man accused of taking two slices of pizza. In another case, they stopped a man who threw a rock at a bus.
In April, soldiers detained a man accused of stealing two beef jerky sticks worth about $7. Last month, six soldiers held a woman accused of drinking a bottle of root beer without paying.
The troops have also been present during more serious incidents. But court records show little evidence of their involvement in the areas where most of the city’s murders have taken place.
About 82% of the city’s 859 murders over the past five years occurred in areas where court records did not show National Guard involvement in law enforcement.
The troops were more often seen in wealthier areas. These areas also tend to have more white residents and more people with college degrees.
Some local residents question whether the deployment makes them safer.
The Rev. William Young, who lives in the Navy Yard area, said the soldiers create fear rather than safety. He said a capital city should not need soldiers to patrol its streets.
The Rev. Norman Nixon also said troops often appear to stop or question young people rather than fight serious crime.
National Guard soldiers have been given limited law enforcement powers. They can detain people suspected of crimes. But police must make the formal arrest.
The Defense Department calls their work “presence patrols.” The main goal is to show a strong security presence and deter crime.
In 35 cases, soldiers were witnesses to crimes. They sometimes waited for police to arrive.
Their reports included minor cases such as public drug activity, public urination and people writing on monuments.
The soldiers have also faced attacks. In 62 cases, people were charged with pushing, hitting or threatening National Guard members.
Nine people were accused of spitting on soldiers. One man allegedly tried to grab a soldier’s gun during an arrest.
Two off-duty soldiers were also arrested for breaking Washington gun laws. Prosecutors later dropped both cases.
The deployment has also been costly.
The Trump administration told Congress that sending National Guard troops to Washington cost about $1.65 million each day last year. The number of troops was later doubled.
The administration plans to keep the deployment until the end of Trump’s presidency in 2029. The estimated cost is about $1.4 billion.
The US has used National Guard troops during disasters and major events. They have also been used during riots. But using them for daily crime patrols is unusual.
Retired Gen. Randy Manner said soldiers are not trained for normal police work. He also said using soldiers costs more than hiring police officers.
Trump has also approved smaller National Guard deployments in Memphis and New Orleans. He has discussed sending troops to other US cities.
It is not clear how much the Washington deployment has reduced crime.
The number of murders in the city has fallen for three years in a row. But murder rates have also fallen in cities without National Guard deployments.
Violent crime in Washington has not shown the same drop. Police recorded about 4% more violent crimes from January to mid-August than during the same period last year.
A May study by the Niskanen Center found that the deployment reduced car theft but had no clear effect on violent crime.
The White House says Trump’s efforts have reduced crime and improved life in Washington.
But the court records reviewed show that National Guard troops have rarely played a direct role in serious crime cases.
Their presence remains highly visible. Yet the evidence so far suggests that the soldiers are more often involved in minor incidents than in stopping the violent crime that has caused the greatest concern in Washington.
