DC Police Chief Resigns After Crime Data Probe

Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department has been found to have misclassified a significant number of crime reports, artificially lowering the city's reported crime rates, according to investigations by the U.S. Attorney's Office and a congressional committee. The findings, released this week, prompted Police Chief Pamela A. Smith to announce her resignation effective December 31, 2025, after two years in the role.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, led by Jeanine Pirro, initiated its probe in August 2025 following concerns over the accuracy of MPD crime data. After examining nearly 6,000 reports and interviewing more than 50 witnesses, the office concluded that many incidents were misclassified, resulting in crime statistics that appeared lower than reality. "The need for accurate information to fight crime is essential," Pirro stated in a Monday announcement. However, the office determined that the conduct did not warrant criminal charges. Pirro emphasized that the MPD must address the issues internally to prevent future discrepancies.

Separately, an interim report from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released Sunday,...