Thirteen members of Washington, DC’s Metropolitan Police Department have been placed on administrative leave and face attainable termination following an inside investigation into allegations that crime knowledge was manipulated to make the town seem safer.
President Donald Trump typically pointed to experiences of manipulated crime stats as one of many causes he surged federal legislation enforcement sources to the nation’s capital final summer season, together with National Guard members who proceed to patrol the town. He declared a “crime emergency” within the metropolis and stated in a Truth Social submit final August that “D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety.”
Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll introduced the conclusion of the inner investigation throughout a press convention Tuesday however declined to supply specifics about what was discovered.
“No one was fired,” Carroll stated. “Some members were served with paperwork yesterday as it relates to being placed on administrative leave pending termination.”
Carroll added that among the 13 officers “were already on administrative leave for other matters earlier.”
Carroll additionally insisted Tuesday that crime has gone down within the district.
“Let me be clear,” he stated, “we have made meaningful progress over the last three years in reducing crime. Homicides, shootings and carjackings have fallen steadily since 2023.”
Carroll stated the investigation was referred to the MPD by the DC US Attorney’s workplace earlier this 12 months, which opened its personal investigation into the crime knowledge in the summertime.
The Republican-led House Oversight Committee additionally opened a probe into DC’s crime stats, issuing a report late last year alleging that former DC Police Chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to govern crime knowledge to create the looks of a safer metropolis.
After simply two years as DC’s high cop, Smith resigned final December amid intense scrutiny over the crime stats, however she vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
In a fiery farewell speech, Smith stated, “Let’s be really clear about one thing – never would I, never will I ever compromise my integrity for a few crime numbers.”
As the federal legislation enforcement surge took maintain within the metropolis final summer season and Republicans cried foul over DC’s crime numbers, House Democrats fought again, issuing a rebuke of the committee’s report.
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“From start to finish, it has been clear that Oversight Republicans’ failed investigation was an assault on reality at the behest of an unstable President angry at a police department for doing its job,” Democrats wrote. “The Trump Administration lied about crime in D.C. to justify illegally deploying troops and attempting to take control of MPD. Commanders uniformly testified that crime in D.C. has significantly decreased since 2023.”
Oversight Committee chair, GOP Rep. James Comer stated in an announcement Tuesday after the disciplinary motion was introduced, “Our work is not done. I expect to receive MPD’s internal report and all related documents to ensure crime data is reported accurately and that anyone responsible for manipulation is held accountable.”