One of the highest-ranking officials in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department has been placed on administrative leave as part of an internal investigation involving alleged inappropriate text messages and questions surrounding the department’s crime data reporting.
Executive Assistant Chief Andre Wright, the second-highest-ranking officer in the department, was placed on leave along with his wife, Natasha Wright, who serves as an inspector in the department’s human resources division. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Department confirmed the action but declined to provide further details, citing ongoing personnel investigations.
According to reports, the disciplinary action stems from text messages discovered on Wright’s work-issued phone during an internal review. Law enforcement sources said the messages were considered inappropriate, though the exact contents have not been publicly confirmed.
The department has not commented on whether the investigation into the messages is connected to a broader federal probe examining allegations that the department may have manipulated crime statistics.
As part of the administrative action, Wright’s police powers were suspended and he reportedly turned in his badge and service weapon.
Andre Wright has spent more than three decades with the department. Former Police Chief Pamela Smith promoted him to executive assistant chief in 2024, a role that placed him in charge of overseeing patrol operations throughout the city.
Smith, who had served roughly two and a half years as police chief, resigned in December following controversy tied to allegations of crime data manipulation within the department.
A draft report from the Department of Justice examining those allegations reportedly referenced Wright multiple times. The report suggested that internal pressures may have led some officials to misclassify crimes in order to maintain the appearance that crime rates were declining.
According to the report, investigators claimed that a “culture of fear” existed within the department during Smith’s leadership, which may have contributed to how crime statistics were recorded and reported.
The GOP-led House Oversight Committee has also investigated the issue, alleging that Smith pressured department commanders to alter crime classifications in order to present lower crime numbers in the nation’s capital.
While the Justice Department report reportedly contained limited specific findings about Wright’s actions, it did note that numerous witnesses provided negative information about him and another senior police official.
As part of the ongoing investigation, authorities seized Wright’s cellphone for review. Sources familiar with the matter told local media that information found on the device contributed to the decision to place him on leave.
Officials with the office of Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser declined to comment on the situation, referring inquiries to the police department.
The controversy comes amid broader concerns about crime and public safety in the nation’s capital. Last year, President Donald Trump declared a “crime emergency” in Washington, D.C., and authorized the deployment of approximately 800 National Guard troops to assist with security and help clear homeless encampments.
Investigations into both the alleged crime data manipulation and Wright’s conduct remain ongoing.
