House Panel Launches Probe Into DC Crime Data Allegations

WASHINGTON—The House Oversight Committee announced on Aug. 25 that it has launched an investigation into allegations of inaccurate and manipulated crime data by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington.

The Department of Justice is also investigating the MPD over allegedly manipulating crime data.

The committee’s chairman, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), notified Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith of the probe in an Aug. 25 letter.

“The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is investigating disturbing allegations that DC crime data is inaccurate and intentionally manipulated, potentially at the direction of Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) leadership,” Comer wrote. “MPD has a duty under federal and local law to accurately report crime to the public.”

In May, the MPD placed Third District Commander Michael Pulliam on administrative leave for allegedly altering crime reports.

Comer noted that the MPD “recently entered into a settlement agreement related to allegations that senior MPD officials were engaged in falsifying crime statistics to artificially lower reported crime rates.” Comer asked for “documents and information, as well as transcribed interviews with the District Commanders of each of the seven patrol districts, and Commander Pulliam to assist its investigation of [the] matter.”

A whistleblower told the committee that crime data were manipulated at the direction of police leadership to show lower crime rates, Comer said.

“The whistleblower stated this manipulation is accomplished by supervisors—with only a cursory understanding of the facts and circumstances of the crime—ignoring the judgement of patrol officers who actually interviewed witnesses and collected evidence by recommending reduced charges,” Comer wrote.

Comer asked for documents and information, such as all crime reports and all communications between police leadership and Washington officials pertaining to revising crime reports.

The committee requested transcribed interviews with Pulliam, First District Commander Colin Hall, Second District Commander Tatjana Savoy, Third District Commander Sean Connors, Fourth District Commander Nikki Lavenhouse, Fifth District Commander Shawn Rooney, Sixth District Commander Jaron Hickman, and Seventh District Commander James Boteler.

The Metropolitan Police Department told The Epoch Times on Sept. 2 that it is cooperating with the committee.

During an Aug. 27 press conference, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser said her administration would answer any questions the committee has.

Data reported by the MPD indicates that violent crime in Washington has decreased by 27 percent from last year. Property crime has declined by 5 percent this year from 2024, while crime overall has gone down by 8 percent, according to preliminary published statistics.

In 2024, homicides were down by 32 percent from the previous year, the department reported. The city’s homicide rate was still the fourth-highest in the United States.

Since the federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department and deployment of the National Guard, there have been more than 1,000 arrests made across Washington, according to the FBI.

President Donald Trump has decried the alleged manipulation of data.

“D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety,” he wrote on Truth Social on Aug. 18. “This is a very bad and dangerous thing to do, and they are under serious investigation for so doing!”