Washington Police Chief Requires Officers To Read Book On Social Epidemics

Washington, DC (AHN) - To curb the wave of crimes in the national capital, Washington Police Chief Cathy Lanier made a book on social epidemics a required reading for police officers.

The book is "Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. Its about New York City's efforts to stop its transit system from further decay by cleaning up its graffiti.

Lanier is known for her unique ways of dealing with crime in Washington. On May 1, the Washington Police Department held its first community book club meeting in which "Tipping Point" was discussed.

Aside from her officers, about 50 residents came to the session. Lanier, quoted by Bloomberg, told the attendees, "We arrested almost 51,000 people last year largely on drugs, prostitution... What I'm saying about this tipping point is that... we're not going to arrest our way out of this problem."

Lanier's other new ways of battling crime include encouraging young residents to text the police about forthcoming gang wars, inviting police officers to search their homes if they suspect some family members has a hidden weapon and tripling officer deployment.

The lady police chief wants to have 4,200 officers by October 2009, but Lanier's plan might be stymied by a proposed $2.5 million cut on its budget for fiscal 2009 budget. Lanier had requested for a $504 million allocation.

Lanier, in a letter to District of Columbia Council member Phil Mendelson, quoted by the Washington Post, wrote, "I fear this... will have a detrimental impact on my ability to run the most effective police department possible."