The federal government’s unprecedented move to seize control of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is now colliding with a deepening internal scandal, as multiple high-ranking D.C. police officials face termination over allegations that crime data was manipulated.
“By declaring a hostile takeover of MPD, the administration is abusing its limited, temporary authority under the Home Rule Act, infringing on the District’s right to self-governance and putting the safety of D.C. residents and visitors at risk,” D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb said in announcing a lawsuit challenging the takeover. “The administration’s unlawful actions are an affront to the dignity and autonomy of the 700,000 Americans who call D.C. home.”
That legal fight, and warnings from elected officials that the move echoed “the dark history of military occupation in Black communities,” have unfolded alongside a sweeping internal investigation that has already led to termination notices for senior members of the police department’s command staff.
At least three officials, including two commanders and a captain, have been issued termination papers by MPD’s internal affairs division, according to various reports. Cmdr. Michael Pulliam and Cmdr. Tatjana Savoy are among those notified, with additional officials facing possible termination or other discipline. The actions are part of a wider probe that could affect nearly 20 officials, including at least 14 who reportedly have already received termination notices.
The investigation centers on whether crime statistics were altered in a way that made the city appear safer than it was. A draft Justice Department report found MPD’s data was “likely unreliable and inaccurate due to misclassifications,” and stated that “violent crime is not being accurately documented and reported to the public,” NBC News reported. A House Oversight Committee report raised similar concerns, including allegations that crimes were downgraded and that officials faced pressure tied to reported numbers.
One example alleges that hundreds of thefts were reclassified in a way that could reduce the appearance of serious crime. The disciplinary process allows those targeted to challenge the findings, and cases can take years to resolve.
The controversy traces back to the tenure of former Police Chief Pamela Smith, who resigned in December 2025. Federal investigators and congressional leaders examined claims that offenses were downgraded or underreported. Smith denied wrongdoing and said she would not compromise her integrity to influence crime statistics.
Former MPD Assistant Chief Joshua Ederheimer told reporters the fallout will affect how the public views the department’s numbers.
“It definitely sends a message, a message of accountability,” Ederheimer said. “This does affect community perception or confidence in the police department’s crime numbers, and I think it’s going to be an uphill battle.”
District Mayor Muriel Bowser has defended the city’s reported decline in crime, saying reductions in violence are real, even as federal investigators and union officials have questioned how those numbers were compiled.
President Donald Trump cited what he called “phony” crime numbers when he announced the federal takeover of MPD, placing the department under direct federal control for a limited period under the Home Rule Act. That action, carried out under a rarely used provision of the law, has triggered legal challenges and intensified scrutiny of both the data and the leadership behind it.
“We have had a record reduction in crime across the city over the last couple of years since I [took office] in 2023,” Schwalb said in a recent interview. “Crime has come down consistently over time. And as the Justice Department has announced, we are at 30-year lows with respect to violent crime in our city.”
