DC Police Chief Pamela Smith celebrates first year in charge as crime drops; residents still concerned

WASHINGTON ( DC News Now ) — In 2023, crime was increasing by the day in the Nation’s capital and ended with a 39% hike in violent crime and the most homicides in decades, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

So far this year, violent crime is down 33% and homicides have fallen 26% compared to last year’s 35% surge.

In a sit-down interview with DC News Now in her office at MPD headquarters, Smith said she’s elated that crime is down in the District and that it is largely a result of shifting strategies and crime legislation pushed by Mayor Muriel Bowser and passed by City Council.

“I know what crime was like when I was appointed by Mayor Bowser July 17 of last year,” she said. “And knowing how the city felt (as) it was suffering from the various crimes and robberies and carjackings and just overall crime and really getting here and looking at the data and really analyzing the data and where we needed to start.”

Smith, who gave herself a B-plus grade for the past year, said she’s not done working even as people around the District continue to feel like crime, particularly the violence involving youth, is actually down.

D.C. traditionally experiences a crime spike going into the summer months, but Smith said MPD was prepared.

“We didn’t wait for the summer to begin addressing crime,” she said. “We started addressing crime last year.”

Not everyone is convinced.

“No, we don’t feel safe,” said Lucille Leach of Southeast D.C.

Leach said she lost her son eight years ago to a murder that remains unsolved.

While crime statistics show a drop in violent crime, she said that’s not at all the reality that many live and see in the District.

“I hope they stop lying about the crime rate because the crime rate is not down,”said Leach.

Clarence Dorsey of D.C. also agreed. He said he would like to see even more community policing where officers interact with the public more to get ahead of crime.

“Certain things might not be happening as they were, but it doesn’t mean that crime is not going on,” he said.

Lorraine Walker of D.C. said that crime isn’t down at all in her mind but she gives the chief high marks for trying to make a difference. She appreciates Smith’s efforts, she said.

“Every time something happens, she’s there,” Walker said of Smith. “She’s talking about it. To me she seems like she’s pretty good people.”

Smith said she acknowledged that there are serious crime perceptions to overcome and that more needs to be done to make people feel safe. And she said she will be in the post as long as the mayor wants her in place.

“So what our job is to do is to continue to have those conversations with those members who don’t feel safe and determine what we can do better,” Smith said.

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