The safety of residents is on the minds of Arlington law enforcement following last week’s terror attack and the upcoming presidential inauguration.
There are currently no known threats in the county, ACPD spokesperson Kiyah Daniell confirmed with ARLnow. However, residents should expect to see increased law enforcement presence in Arlington around the swearing-in ceremony for President-elect Donald Trump on Monday, Jan. 20.
“The Arlington County Police Department remains steadfast in our commitment to keeping the Arlington community safe while working with our law enforcement partners to maintain public safety in the National Capital Region,” Daniell said.
Following the Jan. 1 vehicle attack that killed 14 people in New Orleans — followed by an apparently unrelated explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck at a Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas — authorities have encouraged Arlington residents to “go about your normal routine but remain attentive.”
This is especially important in crowded areas such as shopping centers, commercial districts, houses of worship and public transportation hubs, Daniell said, adding that people should report suspicious activity by calling Arlington’s Emergency Communication Center at 703-558-2222 or 911 in an emergency.
ACPD plans to “deploy increased police resources in Arlington County, to include both visible and non-visible assets, leading up to and during Inauguration Day.” This will include increased use of drones.
“As the department has done during past presidential inaugurations, ACPD is again working with our regional law enforcement partners to ensure the safety and security of the residents, visitors and businesses of the National Capital Region,” Daniell said.
People should expect to see “continuous and simultaneous drone flights” throughout the county on Jan. 20 as ACPD and other Northern Virginia law enforcement agencies patrol from the skies.
To receive emergency alerts and other important information from the county, residents are encouraged to register for Arlington Alert. Daniell also advised people to enable Wireless Emergency Alerts on their mobile devices.
