Investigation: In a matter pending before the Justice Department, it is being investigated whether Washington, D.C., police officials manipulated crime data so that they could announce lower crime rates and crime trends. The investigation only contributes to the longstanding tension between the federal government and the city government over who gets to have authority over law enforcement.
Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., under federal investigation
Why Is the Justice Department Investigating Washington Crime Statistics?
Justice Department building as probe into D.C. crime data continues
The probe by the Justice Department, two top law enforcement officials explain, is led by the Washington U.S. attorney’s office, whose chief is Jeanine Pirro. The probe follows accusations of data manipulation by Metropolitan Police Department officials.
NBC Washington previously reported Commander Michael Pulliam was suspended in May after he was accused of fudging crime statistics. He has refuted that. The probe is most likely to extend beyond one officer, and other officers will likely become involved.
What Has President Trump Said About the Investigation
President Trump claims D.C. released “Fake Crime numbers.”
President Donald Trump confirmed the Justice Department investigation on Truth Social. He wrote that Washington officials reported “phony crime numbers” to create a “false appearance of safety.”
He posted, “D.C. gave phony crime numbers to make themselves look good. This is a terrible and dangerous thing to do, and they are being very seriously investigated for having done it!”
Trump also claimed Washington lately was “the most dangerous city in the United States,” but now is “perhaps safest.” The city has been escorted by federal law enforcement and National Guard troops under his presidency.
How Are City Leaders Answering the Allegations?
Mayor Muriel Bowser defended the Metropolitan Police Department’s numbers, saying there was a 26 percent decline in violent crime over the last year. She argued that the federal takeover of the department is unnecessary.
Bowler said an internal review identified a single commander under suspicion. She reported wider checks across all districts did not find rampant manipulation. Her office refused to comment while the Justice Department probe is ongoing.
What Does the Police Union Say Concerning Reported Crime Statistics?
D.C. Police Union Chairman Gregg Pemberton challenged the validity of the official statistics. He called the reported decline in violent crime “preposterous” and unrepresentative of officers’ daily reality.
Pemberton states that the officers are being deployed in a steady stream to the robbery, carjacking, stabbing, and shooting scenes. He argued that, if crime did drop, then how much of a drop that did show up is not indicated by what one observes in the field.
How Does This Investigation Fit Within Broader Crime Trends
The Justice Department investigation comes after the Trump administration declared a “crime emergency” to directly take over the Metropolitan Police Department. Federal authorities claim that city officials have ignored public safety.
Public records, however, show that violent crime in Washington has been decreasing. Federal prosecutors earlier this year reported that violent crime in 2024 was 35 percent lower than in the previous year, to a three-decade low.
The Role of Transparency in Public Safety and Governance
Durable crime statistics are needed for public trust in policing and government accountability. Experts warn that fake statistics can distort policy choice, undermine safety programs, and erode community trust in policing systems.
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Final Thoughts
The Justice Department probe of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department is centered on whether crime rates were fudged to reflect improved security. Federal authorities allege there was fudging, but city officials say that crime reductions are real. The result could redefine decades of battles over federal authority and policing in the capital.
