Manipulated statistics, high murder rate: 5 things to know about federal takeover of DC
1. DC Police Union accused MPD leadership of falsifying crime data
In a statement published in May, the DC Police Union painted a bleak picture of the climate faced by law enforcement officers who work for the Metropolitan Police Department.
One of the most damning allegations stated that MPD leadership "is deliberately falsifying crime data, creating a false narrative of reduced crime while communities suffer" to "evade public scrutiny."
DC Police Union Chair Gregg Pemberton called the leadership's actions a "betrayal of our officers and the public," saying officers are "overworked, underpaid, and disrespected by leaders who care more about appearances than reality."
"The city's refusal to act is a disgrace, and we will not stand idly by while public safety collapses," Pemberton said in a statement.
NBC Washington reported on July 18 that Michael Pulliam, the commander of MPD's 3rd District that contains the neighborhoods of Adams Morgan and Columbia Heights, was placed on paid administrative leave two months earlier over allegations that he had falsified crime data. Pulliam has maintained his innocence.
Pemberton told NBC Washington this week that while there is a chance some crime has come down in the last year, he said the department is reporting that violent crime dropped 35% in 2024 and another 25% through August 2025.
"That is preposterous to suggest that cumulatively we've seen 60-plus percent drops in violent crime from where we were in ’23, because we're out on the street," he said. "We know the calls we're responding to."
In its May statement, the police union called for the repeal of the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Act. The police union points to the D.C. legislation, enacted following the death of George Floyd in police custody in 2020, as the reason for higher crime in the capital city.
The measure contains several reforms, including a strengthened ban on the use of chokeholds. It also established a Police Complaints Board comprised of civilians with no connection to law enforcement that has the authority to review directives put out by the police chief to determine whether they reduce "the likelihood of confrontations between law enforcement officers and residents and visitors" and promote "racial equity," among other priorities.
Additional provisions of the legislation limit the ability of the police department to purchase certain weapons and require officers to undergo training related to "biased-based policing, racism, and white supremacy." The bill also mandates the appointment of an expert in "gender-based violence or LGBTQ social services, policy, or advocacy" to the police officer training board and authorizes the examination of officers' social media accounts to determine whether they have ties to "white supremacist or other hate groups."
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
