Does More Inauguration Revelry = More Cops?

Might the D.C. Council's decision to keep bars and nightclubs open 24 hours a day during Inauguration weekend mean more cops hitting the streets to keep late-night partygoers in line?

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier reluctantly shared some reaction to the emergency legislation at a morning press conference at police headquarters, convened to announce arrests in a homicide case. Lanier was asked a few times what the extended bar hours would mean for police deployment from Jan. 17-21. (Partygoers will be able to drink until 5 a.m. instead of the normal bar closing time of 2 a.m. on weekdays and 3 a.m. on weekends). Each time she got asked about it, Fenty stepped to the microphone to answer.

"Our job is to administer the laws, and we will do that in this case," the mayor said, who added that he would sign the legislation.

Chief, what do you think of the legislation?

"Our thoughts," Fenty said, "are the Council of the District of Columbia were presented with all the facts in front of them," and voted "in the best interest of the people of the District of Columbia."

Chief, will the legislation mean any extra police deployments?

"The Metropolitan Police Department," the mayor said, "has a lot to deal with just in the normal operation of nightclubs, so that any extention of hours beyond what they normally do is obviously going to require more manpower and more hard work."

The police department, "is more than up to the task," Fenty said

But the topic just wouldn't die down. And so Lanier finally spoke.

"Obviously the Metropolitan Police Department steps up when they need to step up and handles their business," she said. "We will do what we need to do and we will make sure that the city is safe."

By Theola Labbé-DeBose and Paul Duggan

By David A Nakamura  |  December 3, 2008; 3:27 PM ET  | Category:  Entertainment , Food & Dining , Security
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