House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-KY) announced that the committee will be probing allegations that Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) manipulated crime data.
According to a whistleblower familiar with the data, manipulated MPD information affects all seven patrol districts.
“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 leadership. MPD has a duty under federal and local law to accurately report crime to the public,” Comer wrote in a letter to MPD Chief of Police Pamela Smith. “However, in May, MPD placed Third District Commander Michael Pulliam on administrative leave following allegations that he altered crime reports. Unfortunately, this practice does not appear to be isolated, nor is it a recent development. 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.”
“In light of these reports and a related whistleblower disclosure made to the Committee, the Committee requests documents and information, as well as transcribed interviews with the District Commanders of each of the seven patrol districts, including Commander Pulliam, to assist its investigation of this matter,” he wrote.
In July, Police Union head Gregg Pemberton accused commanders of instructing officers to “take a report for a lesser offense” to artificially lower crime statistics. Commander Michael Pulliam is under investigation for allegedly altering crime classifications.
