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Washington, D.C.’s police chief is stepping down after coming to national attention as president donald trump led to unionization WashingtonPolice force of.
Pamela Smith, appointed in 2023, was brought in to stabilize a department facing understaffing and a city rocked by crime after the pandemic.
But his tenure unfolded amid a fierce battle over power, as Trump asserted federal control over Metropolitan Police Department and deployed National Guard Soldiers and federal agents accompanied city officials.
Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Smith’s resignation and praised him for “stepping up” at a moment of “critical urgency.”
Bowser credited him with helping reduce violent crime, bringing murders to an eight-year low and launching major policing initiatives, including a real-time crime center and new technology upgrades.
“Chief Smith did all this while dealing with unprecedented challenges and attacks on our city’s autonomy,” Bowser said.
The mayor did not say why Smith was leaving, but Smith said fox 5 dc“I’m moving forward non-stop. I’ve missed so many wonderful celebrations in our family, birthdays, weddings, you name it.
“What really touched my heart was going home to see my family for Thanksgiving.
“Being able to come home for Thanksgiving two years after my mom passed away was really great for me and allowed me to make a decision that I feel was necessary not only for me, but for my family.”
Bowser did not announce who would take over the department or whether the change in leadership might affect the city’s broader public-safety strategy at a time when Washington is reeling from historic levels of violence.
Smith said he was confident the police force “is in a strong position and the good work will continue” and that the role has been both a challenge and a reward.
“I am proud of what we accomplished together, and I thank the residents of this city for their trust and partnership,” Smith said.
“While my aspiration has always been to see zero percent crime, we are not there yet. Nevertheless, we have made tremendous progress, and there is significant work ahead.”
Smith, a longtime federal law enforcement officer and former chief of the U.S. Park Police, took command during one of Washington’s most volatile years in nearly two decades, as murders rose, carjackings reached record highs and frustration grew among residents and lawmakers.
The 2023 violence surge prompted congressional hearings and prompted city leaders to expand police authority, including authorizing drug-free zones in areas with persistent crime. Lawmakers also rewrote parts of the city’s criminal code in an effort to curb the increase in violent crimes.
Early the following year, the city began to see improvements. Overall crime declined by approximately 17% in the first ten weeks of 2024, with Smith attributing the decline to new legislation and targeted deployment in neighborhoods that have repeatedly experienced trouble. They also imposed temporary youth curfew zone in several parts of the district.