On the matter of Trinidad — the D.C. neighborhood currently wracked by violence — we have heard plenty from police brass, civil libertarians and residents. Now, a word from street cops, the grunts who have to keep the peace.

“The reason Trinidad is so bad is that as soon as the officer gets out of the car and takes police action, he or she gets a complaint by a citizen,” says a veteran sergeant. “It could be simply patting someone down or asking a question or checking for ID. If someone files a complaint, that officer is under investigation.”

I have immense respect for activists like Ron “Mo” Moten, co-founder of Peaceoholics, who staged a mock burial of “snitching,” last week. I have tremendous sympathy and regard for Police Chief Cathy Lanier, who works so hard to keep her finger in the dike against the rising tide of violence.

Both are missing the reason some neighborhoods are violent.

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Brutal truth is the police have lost power. Fear rules the streets. The criminals and the law-abiding citizens fear the thugs more than they fear the police. No amount of preaching or beseeching or setting up roadblocks can make bad guys obey the law. It takes fear and consequences. There are none.

“We don’t have power and control,” one captain conceded. “It’s shifted to the other side: residents, good or bad.”

Take consequences. In the first spasm of violence last month that prompted checkpoints in Trinidad, three men were killed. No one has been charged. Last weekend a 13-year-old boy visiting his great-grandmother was shot dead in one of two shooting sprees. No one has been charged.

Why are the D.C. cops so lame at closing investigations? One reason is they are better at investigating one another than in fingering murderers.

“The level of internal investigations and paperwork on discipline is worse than ever,” a high-ranking officer told me. “If I don’t get my paperwork in, I get investigated for neglect of duty. My duty is on the street, not doing paperwork.”

In one case, three officers confronted a man for public drinking, he ran, they chased, he tossed a gun, they caught him with another and bags of PCP. A crowd formed as they arrested him, so they hustled him into a cruiser. His irate mother called to complain her son had been harassed. Rather than being commended, the three officers are under investigation, even though a search of the suspect’s home found more guns and drugs.

In another case, a street cop stopped a car for a minor traffic violation. The suspect hit the cop, the cop got him under control and took him to the hospital, where they found 85 rocks of crack cocaine on him. His apartment had guns and drugs. The cop got a commendation — and went under investigation for improper use of force.

“It’s easier for officers to do nothing,” one sergeant told me. “Our ability to use discretion has been taken away. We’re bowing to pressure from the outside.”

And losing control of the streets.