D.C. Police Chief Cooked the Books on Crime Numbers to Appear Better: Oversight Report [WATCH]

New details surrounding the resignation of District of Columbia Police Chief Pamela Smith emerged following the release of an interim report by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which alleges that Smith pressured senior officers to manipulate crime data to make conditions in the nation’s capital appear less severe than they were.

Smith’s sudden resignation had prompted questions about internal operations at the Metropolitan Police Department.

According to the House Oversight Committee’s interim findings, those questions were addressed through transcribed interviews with commanders from all seven D.C. patrol districts, along with one former commander who has since been placed on suspended leave.

The interim report states that Smith “pressured and at times directed commanders to manipulate crime data in order to maintain the appearance of low crime in the nation’s capital.”

The report further alleges that Smith’s leadership environment was characterized by “fear, intimidation, threats, and retaliation,” conditions the committee said contributed to declining morale and the departure of experienced officers and commanders.

“The interim report, drawn from transcribed interviews with the commanders of all seven D.C. patrol districts, as well as one former commander currently placed on suspended leave, reveals that Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela A. Smith pressured and at times directed commanders to manipulate crime data in order to maintain the appearance of low crime in the nation’s capital,” the report states.

“The testimony from the commanders also describes an environment under Chief Smith marked by fear, intimidation, threats, and retaliation—conditions that contributed directly to declining morale and the loss of experienced officers and commanders.”

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According to the committee, the alleged manipulation of crime data masked the severity of public safety conditions in Washington, D.C., at a time when concerns over violent crime were growing. Rising crime levels were cited as a key factor behind President Donald Trump’s decision to take direct action in the capital earlier this year.

On August 14, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14333, formally declaring a crime emergency in the District of Columbia.

The executive order placed the Metropolitan Police Department under the authority of the U.S. Attorney General and authorized the deployment of the D.C. National Guard to assist local law enforcement efforts.

The House Oversight Committee report notes that MPD commanders testified that the measures implemented under the executive order have had a measurable impact.

According to their testimony, the federal intervention and the National Guard’s presence have supported MPD operations and contributed to improvements in public safety.

The committee’s findings suggest that internal reporting practices within MPD may have prevented lawmakers and the public from fully understanding the scope of the crime problem prior to federal intervention.

The report also raises questions about how crime data was presented to Congress and other oversight bodies during Smith’s tenure.

While the interim report does not announce criminal charges or final conclusions, it outlines a series of allegations that prompted Smith’s departure and prompted further scrutiny of district leadership.

The Oversight Committee indicated that additional investigation is ongoing and that further findings may be released.

The resignation of the police chief comes amid broader debate over crime policy in the District of Columbia and the balance between local control and federal authority.

Smith’s departure follows the testimony of her former subordinates, who described internal pressure to alter official records and an atmosphere that discouraged dissent.

The House Oversight Committee said it plans to continue examining the circumstances surrounding Smith’s leadership and the handling of crime data at MPD.

The interim report is publicly available, and committee officials said it represents a preliminary account based on sworn interviews and collected documentation.

As federal oversight of the department continues under the executive order, district leadership now faces continued scrutiny from Congress, the Department of Justice, and the public.

The Oversight Committee has not yet announced when a final report will be released but indicated that additional witnesses and evidence are under review.

The developments mark a significant shift in the management of public safety in the nation’s capital, with congressional investigators and federal authorities now playing a more direct role following the allegations outlined in the interim report.