13 D.C. Police Officials Fired in Explosive Crime Data Manipulation Scandal

The scandal has become politically explosive because crime statistics in Washington were repeatedly cited by city officials and national Democrats as evidence that public safety conditions were improving, even as residents continued reporting concerns about violent crime, carjackings, robberies, and assaults across the city.

The committee’s earlier report painted a damaging picture of department leadership under former Police Chief Pamela Smith. According to that report, district commanders told investigators they felt pressure from leadership to “fix” crime numbers and create what lawmakers described as “the perception of low crime in the District.”

The alleged manipulation reportedly focused on reclassifying offenses among the city’s major violent and property crime categories. Serious assaults, robberies, and other crimes were allegedly downgraded in ways that kept them from appearing in headline public crime statistics.

Critics argue that such practices not only distort public understanding of crime trends but also affect policy decisions, resource allocations, and public trust in law enforcement.

Former Chief Smith, who resigned late last year, has denied wrongdoing and pushed back forcefully against the allegations.

“Never will I ever compromise my integrity for a few crime numbers,” Smith said following publication of the Oversight Committee’s findings.

Jeanine Pirro recently revealed that federal prosecutors reviewing cases from the department had upgraded certain assault and firearms charges because suspects appeared to have been undercharged by local authorities.

The Office of the D.C. Inspector General has also launched its own investigation into the allegations, creating parallel probes at both the federal and local levels.