By Sarah Roebuck
Police1
WASHINGTON — After 16 people were fatally shot in six days in August, D.C.'s new chief of police addressed the command staff at a recent meeting, the Washington Post reports.
During a meeting with commanders, Chief Pamela A. Smith, who was promoted to acting chief three weeks ago, told personnel in her department that she saw too many patrol officers standing around at a recent murder scene. According to officials who were at the meeting, Smith told the officers she wanted them out in the neighborhood.
Smith also stated she wants more lieutenants and captains to leave their desks and go to the streets, the officials at the meeting said.
A department spokesperson told Washington Post that the chief “has addressed the command staff on multiple occasions, including during twice-weekly crime briefings, to ensure that our leadership is focused on driving down crime in the District of Columbia.”
The statement to Washington Post said all department leaders “are involved in formalizing the current crime plan and strategy,” adding that Smith “will continue to be highly present in the community and has instructed her leadership team, including lieutenants and captains, to do the same.”
Smith has been a law enforcement officer for 24 years, rising through the ranks in different positions throughout the country. She joined MPD in 2022, becoming the department’s first chief equity officer. When Smith was appointed chief in July, she said the first thing she wants to do as chief is drive down crime.