🩷DOJ Finds D.C. Police Crime Data May Have Been Manipulated👇

The U.S. Department of Justice has concluded its investigation into whether the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) manipulated crime data to make public safety trends appear more favorable, according to multiple law enforcement sources familiar with the matter. Officials have reportedly notified MPD that the inquiry has been completed, and the department’s findings could be released as early as Monday, NBC Washington reported.

A draft version of the report obtained by News4 outlines what investigators describe as a recurring pattern of crime reports being downgraded or misclassified. According to the draft, some of these changes were allegedly influenced by internal pressure to demonstrate declining crime rates in the nation’s capital.

The draft report states that MPD’s “official crime statistical reporting mechanism is likely unreliable and inaccurate due to misclassifications, errors, and/or purposefully downgraded classifications and reclassifications.” It further notes that investigators identified a “significant number” of police reports that were categorized incorrectly.

As part of the inquiry, investigators interviewed more than 50 witnesses and reviewed thousands of police reports and internal documents. The probe examined how crime data was recorded, classified, and ultimately reported to the public.

Several witnesses told investigators that pressure to reduce reported crime appeared to intensify during the tenure of Police Chief Pamela Smith, who recently announced she plans to step down at the end of the month. While some witnesses said misclassification issues predated her leadership, the draft report indicates the pressure allegedly increased during her time as chief.

“While witnesses cite misclassifications and purposely downgraded classifications of criminal offenses at MPD for years prior, there appears to have been a significant increase in pressure to reduce crime during Pamela Smith’s tenure,” the report states, with some describing the atmosphere as coercive.

The draft also criticizes the department’s internal culture during twice-weekly crime briefings, where district commanders were allegedly criticized and publicly reprimanded for crime trends in their areas. Investigators additionally raised concerns about the reliability of MPD’s Daily Crime Report.