New Top Prosecutor Takes Tough Stand Against Crime

WASHINGTON - With the District's crime emergency legislation expiring this month and its future up in the air, U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeff Taylor isn't saying what he'd want included in future legislation, but the city's new top prosecutor is promising a tough stance against crime.

"I believe in aggressive policing. I believe in aggressive law enforcement. I believe in aggressive prosecution," Taylor said in an interview with WTOP.

Taylor says he's leaving it to the politicians and police to decide what aspects of the crime legislation are paying off.

"We're going to enforce whatever laws the local officials decide to give us," says Taylor, who's been on the job one week. The former counselor to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales replaces Kenneth L. Wainstein, who was picked by President Bush to head the new anti-terrorism arm of the Justice Department.

The U.S. Attorney's office has taken a position that one part of the emergency crime legislation, saying the part of the law that makes it easier for a judge to deny bail to crime suspects has been helpful.

Taylor says overcoming the community's fear of retribution remains an ongoing challenge for prosecutors.

"We have to have witnesses who are willing to come forward and say, 'This is what happened in my neighborhood.'"

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