The DC Metropolitan Police Department is facing a leadership shakeup after its interim chief placed more than a dozen senior officials on leave amid a probe into how crime data was handled.
Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll said Tuesday that 13 members of the department’s command staff have been put on administrative leave as part of what he described as “organizational changes.” All are captains or higher-ranking officials, and all have been served termination notices tied to concerns they may have mishandled — and even manipulated — crime statistics in the nation’s capital.
None of the officials has been fired yet. Under department policy, they are entitled to due process before any final decision is made.
Several of those facing termination held top roles under former Chief Pamela Smith, including her deputy and at least one assistant chief responsible for patrol operations across large parts of the city.
Carroll declined to provide details about the investigation during a Tuesday news conference, calling it a “personnel matter.” He did not say how long the alleged manipulation may have occurred, how it was carried out, or whether the 13 officials coordinated their actions.
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“The administrative process must be allowed to take its course, and that process is outlined in our MPD general orders,” Carroll said. “Let me be clear, we have made meaningful progress over the last three years in reducing crime. Homicides, shootings and carjackings have fallen steadily since 2023.”
The lack of specifics has fueled frustration among some D.C. residents, who see the probe as a broader issue that could shake confidence in the department’s leadership and how crime victims have been treated.
Before Carroll’s remarks, police union chairman Greggory Pemberton said those responsible must be held accountable, arguing that rank-and-file officers and city residents deserve transparency and honest leadership.
The internal review that led to the disciplinary action is not expected to be released publicly, a decision Carroll said is consistent with department policy on personnel matters. The officers involved retain the right to appeal.
Meanwhile, the controversy has drawn attention on Capitol Hill. Rep. James Comer, who leads the House Oversight Committee, is still awaiting a copy of the department’s internal report stemming from the investigation.
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