Mayor Bowser hosts virtual town hall as search begins for new DC police chief

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser is seeking input from residents as the search for the district’s next chief of police approaches. The search comes after the mayor faced criticism over new crime proposals this year.

At a town hall Thursday, Bowser, a Democrat, discussed the steps for searching for a new district chief to replace Robert Contee, who is retiring at the end of year after coming on as chief in 2021.

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Bowser emphasized the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion as she moves forward in finding a chief of police, adding that the government is focused on hiring “leaders that reflect our city.” Bowser said the “Metropolitan Police Department is one of the most diverse in the country.”

For the town hall, which took place at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, residents were encouraged to submit questions online or by calling in about their goals for the Metropolitan Police Department.

Washington has experienced a 28% increase in 2023 in overall crime compared to 2022, reflecting a larger problem across the nation as cities have seen sharp spikes in crime rates in recent years. According to Thursday data from MPD, robberies are up 31%, homicide has increased by 15%, and motor vehicle theft has increased by an astonishing 121%.

“MPD plays a key role in implementing law enforcement strategies to help to lead to safety, and also plays a key role across our ecosystem,” Deputy Mayor Lindsey Appiah said. “Whether it’s in our prevention space, with our other federal partners, in our rehabilitation with our returning citizens or otherwise.”

Multiple callers raised questions about what the new chief will do to address the factors contributing to the rise in crime, echoing the message that residents lack a feeling of safety in the district.

“It’s critically important that we have a chief who understands what it looks like to lead an organization of that size, to be laser focused on reducing crime, and making sure that our residents are safe and feel safe,” Appiah said.

Residents also expressed concern about the homelessness crisis in Washington, which many believe is a result of emergency pandemic measures that ended and furthers the need to increase funding for affordable housing.

The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments released data last month indicating around a 12% increase in homelessness from the previous year, marking the highest number in several years.

One caller asked why the mayor has not deployed the National Guard to address some of the city’s most pressing concerns.

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“The National Guard isn’t trained or equipped to really be the police force,” Kevin Donahue, the city administrator for DC Government, said, adding that the National Guard for Washington does not have the numbers to work alongside MPD.

Bowser also praised the city’s education efforts, pointing to Washington school districts being “the first one in the region to get more kids back in school post-pandemic.”