Oversight says DC police chief ‘undermined’ accuracy of crime data
A recent house Oversight Committee report accuses Washington D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith of manipulating crime data, undermining the accuracy of reported statistics. The interim report,released shortly after Smith announced her resignation effective December 31,is based on testimonies from eight MPD commanders that describe a toxic management culture marked by fear,intimidation,and retaliation when crime rates rose. Despite a published reduction in crime statistics for 2025, including a 28% drop in violent crime, critics argue the data were manipulated to present a more favorable image. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser praised Smith’s leadership and attributed the crime decline to MPD officers’ efforts, while the Oversight Committee warned that crime data manipulation risks persist and urged bowser to appoint a new chief committed to openness and improved department culture. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer stated that Smith’s resignation should have happened earlier, condemning her alleged coercion and manipulation of crime reports as dangerous and trust-eroding.
Oversight says DC police chief ‘undermined’ accuracy of crime data
A new House Oversight Committee report takes aim at Washington D.C.‘s Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith, accusing Smith of manipulating the district’s crime data.
The Oversight Committee released the interim investigation report on Sunday, just days after Smith announced her resignation, effective Dec. 31. The committee interviewed eight MPD commanders, seven current and one suspended, and found that their testimonies substantiated allegations of manipulated crime statistics and uncovered a “toxic management culture,” according to the report.
“While the Committee continues to investigate documents related to crime statistics reporting, testimony exhibited in this report paints a troubling picture of department leadership placing a higher priority on suppressing public reporting of crime statistics than stopping crime itself,” the report reads.
The report describes an alleged “culture of fear, intimidation, threats, and retaliation by Chief Smith” that was often brought out when Smith heard of a rise in crime statistics. The committee also said the testimonies reported a “drop” in the department’s reputation and retention and recruitment difficulties under her leadership.
A recent MPD publication of year-to-date crime statistics for the end of 2025 showed a drop in crime in nearly all areas, including a 28% reduction in all violent crime between 2024 and 2025. In August, President Donald Trump federalized the MPD and mobilized the National Guard in the district in the name of public safety.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser attributed this reduction in crime to the MPD officers and Smith’s leadership in a statement shared with the Washington Examiner on Sunday when asked for comment on the oversight report.
“The men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department run towards danger every day to reduce homicides, carjackings, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and more. The precipitous decline in crime in our city is attributable to their hard work and dedication and Chief Smith’s leadership,” Bowser said in the statement.
The Oversight report concluded and warned that crime statistics are still “at risk” of being manipulated following Smith’s resignation announcement on Monday. It also recommended that Bowser appoint an MPD chief “who will address the ongoing concerns of crime statistics manipulations and alleviate the retaliatory pressures and threats faced by MPD personnel.”
Bowser, who is not running for a fourth term as mayor, thanked Smith for her efforts as chief in her Sunday statement to the Washington Examiner. Bowser initially nominated Smith, the first black woman to serve as MPD chief, to her role in July 2023.
“I thank Chief Smith for her commitment to the safety of DC residents and for holding the Metropolitan Police Department to an exacting standard, and I expect no less from our next Chief of Police,” Bowser said.
But House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said Smith’s resignation should have occurred much earlier.
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“Testimony from experienced and courageous MPD commanders has exposed the truth: Chief Pamela Smith coerced staff to report artificially low crime data and cultivated a culture of fear to achieve her agenda. Chief Smith’s decision to mislead the public by manipulating crime statistics is dangerous and undermines trust in both local leadership and law enforcement.” Comer said in a statement.
The MPD did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s requests for comment.
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