House Oversight Accuses D.C. Police Chief of Manipulating Crime Data
“Chief Smith, the commanders testified, was so preoccupied with the statistics of the select crimes that were made public that she incentivized her subordinates to lower those crimes by whatever means necessary.”
The House Oversight Republicans released a preliminary report accusing Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela A. Smith of manipulating crime data to make the city appear safer.
Smith resigned last week, citing “family, and also being more present with loved ones” after two years.
The Committee interviewed commanders:
The Committee’s ongoing investigation has heard testimonies from commanders that there are clear pressures placed on MPD personnel to lower the classifications of crime to present to the public the perception of low crime in the District. Specifically, there was an emphasis on the daily crime report (DCR), a public-facing dataset that only includes nine categories of felony offenses, above all other crimes discussed within the highest levels of the MPD. Chief Smith, the commanders testified, was so preoccupied with the statistics of the select crimes that were made public that she incentivized her subordinates to lower those crimes by whatever means necessary.
MPD commanders’ testimonies corroborated concerns about alleged manipulations of crime statistics. In fact, commanders told the Committee that, on numerous occasions, they were not only pressured, but also instructed, to lower crime classifications to lesser intermediate offenses in such a way that those offenses would not be included in the DCR reported to the public. In sharing this alarming information, the commanders, throughout their transcribed interviews, presented as seasoned law enforcement professionals who were credible and qualified to speak to the issues currently plaguing the MPD.
The Committee’s investigation, which began as an inquiry into allegations of manipulation of crime statistics in the District, also uncovered concerning accounts about the deterioration of MPD leadership through the toxic management culture created by Chief Smith. The Committee’s investigation heard consistent testimony about frustration and exhaustion among MPD commanders and the manifestation of a culture of fear, intimidation, threats, and retaliation by Chief Smith. Often, these manifestations were triggered whenever the Chief was presented with what she considers “bad news,” particularly when that news pertained to any rise in public crime statistics. Chief Smith, according to testimonies, regularly took action against her subordinates who failed to aid in the preservation of her public image.
The Committee concluded that Smith’s actions led to a drop in the police department’s reputation.
“Chief Smith’s failures as leader have negatively impacted the Department’s ability to retain officers and commanders, many of whom devoted years of service to the MPD prior to Chief Smith,” according to the report. “Commanders testified that retention problems have left the Department severely lacking in the ability to train and recruit future MPD leaders.”
The Commanders told the Committee that they knew Smith would berate and embarrass them in meetings if they reported any increase in crime data.
“Various commanders testified to observing several of their fellow commanders being removed or demoted immediately following a negative crime report,” the Republicans wrote.
Not only that, but Smith made it mandatory that she and her assistant chiefs review “many of the crimes specifically affecting public crime statistics” before anyone inserted them into the MPD systems.
Smith also pushed officers to use “intermediate criminal charges.”
Those are “lower degree criminal charges that go unreported to the public.”
Therefore, categorizing a crime as an intermediate criminal charge means the MPD does not have to report it.
The 22-page report is infuriating. I attached it below for you to read. I encourage it.
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Comments
“Cain have it lookin’ like ah isn’t doin’ mah job.”
That’s “jaahhb “.
Yup. We already knew this was happening as it was reported last year. Another DEI black lesbian in charge is something to crow about, though as a “First”. Forget if she can do the job or not. Can anyone point out a female in charge of a police department of a major city that hasn’t been a disaster? We just saw what these ruinous DEI policies can do with the last administration more enamored with “firsts” than having competent people. We were reminded of this everyday at the WH briefing.
I live in Montgomery County MD, a DC suburb. Since I’ve retired, I have gone into DC a handful of times, and then only to see medical providers. Now that I’ve changed my primary care physician, I don’t go into DC at all. No need to expose myself to unnecessary danger.
Seems to me that the one place that would national reciprocity is the District of Columbia. It should be the safest place in America (except for politicians).
If wherever I’m going doesn’t have a Metro station within a block or two (Capitals games), I pay for the Ubers (9:30 Club, Black Cat, Wonderland Ballroom, etc.). I grew up in DC during the murder years, and H Street is worse now than it was when Rayful was killing the competition.
And you know that this is exactly what’s going on in 90% of the big blue cities in America, but this is the only one that Congress can touch.
Crime “reductions” so they can say “See? Gun control DOES work!”
The more boxes that are checked the more incompetent the person tends to be.
Ms. Smith certainly lives down to the DEI stereotype.
Missed and hit the downcheck by mistake.
I agree completely, Peter.
Mark Groubert
@lordbuckly
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LAPD homicide division has been eliminated as of Nov 1st. No reporter knew this. LAPD homicide now handled by robbery division. This is breaking news.
I believe it would be more accurate to say that the previously separate homicide and robbery receive divisions were merged into a single division.
At least now Jack Benny can stop thinking.
Is manipulating official crime stats illegal? How much prison time is she going to do over it?
What do you mean, “no”, “None”??????? HEY CONGRESS! DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, at least in DC.
If any funds allocated to DC local gov’t by Feds were based upon willfully altered statistics by DC officials that’s potentially fraud. The allegations of punishment for Police Commanders who didn’t alter categories of crimes to a lower level to maintain the scheme is at least malfeasance (if true) and a grand jury can hear those claims.
I was going to leave a comment in this vein. Your comment provides a convenient on-ramp.
Generally, a PD asks for more resources when crime is up. When crime is down, the PD’s budget becomes a target for forces in government that would like to see budgets increased elsewhere. So, while your tack is generally on course (crime reports generate fodder for budgetary considerations), I believe you’re going the wrong way.
Here’s what I think may have happened: If crime goes down, other programs benefit from money diverted from the PD’s budget (as unnecessary due to reduced crime). If such reduced funding occurred, did any city programs benefit from such transfers of funds? If so, who ordered the lowering of the crime stats to enable said transfers? The PD’s chief didn’t do this on her own (she doesn’t benefit by reducing her force’s budget). She may have been acting under orders.
Sure that’s very plausible.
Unless it could be shown that her compensation was tied to the crime rate, that is, the lower the rate the higher her salary, I’m not sure reporting incorrect stats is illegal. It would have to be tied to funding or personal benefit I think. Maybe?
Gearing up for that Female Ghostbusters 2.0 spot?
Smith resigned last week, citing “family, and also being more present with loved ones”
Uh huh. Hopefully she’s making up for the next few years where she’ll be away for a while.
to lower those crimes by whatever means necessary
Well, no. She wanted them to lower the number of reports of those crimes. Lowering the actual crime would have been the right goal.
Pamela A. Urkel: “Did I do that?”
Charging lesser offenses instead of the serious crime actual committed results in the vast numbers of career criminals being free to commit yet more crimes rather than being incarcerated.
For Democrats, this is a feature not a bug. They are ideologically opposed to incarcerating criminals. Citizens that defend themselves from such criminals, they will throw the book at though.
This is why, every time there is some horrific crime in America, the perp ALWAYS has a rap sheet miles long. In some cases over a hundred arrests on violent offenses. Yet they are typically released same day, with no bail.
Everyone involved in putting these policies in place is directly responsible for the repeat offenses they are enabling. And yet none of them EVER pay any price for it. Not only is no attempt ever made to find some way to prosecute them for their deliberate negligence, but they aren’t damaged politically either. The D voters in their communities, who are literally the victims of all of these crimes, just keep re-electing them every cycle.
Are tough Irish cops an extinct specie?
Most were shot by jumpy Somali cops.