Metropolitan Police Department Chief of Police Pamela A. Smith is stepping down after two-and-a-half years, she and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Monday.
Smith was appointed in 2023 and is the first Black woman to serve as chief of the D.C. police department.
Smith took over as chief in July 2023, when D.C. was experiencing a spike in violent crime, particularly homicides. As chief, she has overseen a dramatic drop in crime in just about every category.
The past four months, though, have been overshadowed by President Donald Trump’s federal law enforcement surge, a temporary presidential takeover of the police department, community outrage over D.C. police participation in federal immigration enforcement and two ongoing federal investigations into allegations police officials manipulated crime data. It’s an allegation Smith and Bowser firmly deny.
Plus, just days ago, Bowser said she won’t seek reelection.
Smith dismissed all of those as being factors in her decision to step down.
“My decision was not factored into anything, with respect, other than the fact that it’s time,” she said. “I’ve had 28 years in law enforcement. I’ve had some time to think with my family.”
“This has really been a fast-paced role because it is in a major city,” she added. “And I know that the challenges that we faced have, you know, we’ve had some high points and we’ve had some low points, but, respectfully, right now, this is a personal decision for myself and for my family.”
Smith’s last day will be Dec. 31, the mayor’s office said.
In a statement, Bowser said Smith was appointed during a “challenging time” for D.C. in which the focus was to drive down crime. She listed some of Smith’s accomplishments, including opening the Real-Time Crime Center while “navigating unprecedented challenges and attacks on our city’s autonomy.”
“Chief Smith dramatically drove down violent crime, drove down the homicide rate to its lowest levels in eight years, and helped us restore a sense of safety and accountability in our neighborhoods,” Bowser said. “We are grateful for her service to Washington, DC.”
In her own statement, Smith said the role was both challenging and rewarding and thanked D.C. residents for their “trust and partnership.” She said D.C. made “tremendous progress, and there remains work ahead.”
“I am confident that the department is in a strong position and that the great work will continue, moving in a positive trajectory to combat crime and enhance public safety. Washington, DC is an extraordinary place to live, visit, and work, and I remain inspired by the resilience and spirit of this community,” Smith said.
DC reacts to Smith stepping down
Some people in D.C. said they could see why Smith decided to step down when she did because “it’s a lot of divisiveness in the city.”
“I think a lot of people are feeling one way or another about the National Guard,” one person said. “[…] She probably just feels a little bit overrun.”
In a statement, the DC Police Union said the union is grateful for Smith’s time in her role but they questioned the timing of the announcement. They said it comes amid an investigation into “allegations of manipulation of crime statistics and mismanagement within the MPD.”
The investigation came after it was revealed the commander of MPD’s 3rd District was suspended after MPD accused him of changing crime statistics to minimize serious crimes.
Smith said she had no comment on the union’s statement.
Smith’s career as chief of police
Before becoming chief, Smith had 25 years of police experience at the federal and local levels. She served as the chief of the U.S. Park Police, MPD’s first chief equity officer and assistant chief of the Homeland Security Bureau.
In 2023, D.C. experienced its most violent year in nearly two decades after a hike in homicides and carjackings. The crime led to congressional hearings and resulted in new crime legislation from Bowser and the D.C. Council. They authorized police tactics including designating drug-free zones in high-crime areas.
In the first two-and-a-half months of 2024, the overall crime rate went down 17%. According to statistics from the mayor’s office, the homicide rate has reached its lowest in eight years. There was also a 29% reduction in homicides this year and a 52% reduction in shootings over the last two years.
Smith credited the new crime law and new deployments of officers for the drop in crime.
Over the summer, Smith issued youth curfew zones in Navy Yard and U Street to keep young people from gathering at night after a rowdy night in Navy Yard. In November, the council voted to extend authority to the chief of police to declare juvenile curfew zones for another three months.
Who will be DC’s next police chief?
News4 asked Bowser about the challenge she now faces in trying to find a new chief in the midst of a federal surge, knowing that because D.C. will have a new mayor in 13 months, the job will likely be temporary.
“I don’t call it a challenge, Mark [Segraves], because of the very deep bench we have and because of the great reputation of our department. So, I wouldn’t call it a challenge. We will have the right person in leadership. I just want to give it a little bit more time,” she said.
“I will say this, I’ve been around long enough to know and to have lived through transitions and transitions for outgoing mayors, one of whom I was replacing,” Bowser continued. “And so, there are ways to approach this period of time and do it in a way that’s going to be most beneficial to D.C. residents. So, I’m going to, I’m going to marinate on it a little bit, and I’ll appoint the right perfect person.”
Get the D.C. area’s top news and weather delivered to your inbox every morning. Sign up for First & 4Most, our free newsletter.
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
Want more insights? Join Working Title - our career elevating newsletter and get the future of work delivered weekly.
