Police Data Probe: A New Look at Crime Numbers

The Washington City Police Department is currently being scrutinized over allegations that it may have altered crime reports.

Investigation Status

• An official from the department announced they will follow up on a report that is still in progress by the city’s Office of the Inspector General.
• The review began in January; its findings are not yet public.

Objectives and Concerns

• The spokesperson emphasized the primary goal of lowering crime rates.
• While overall crime has dropped compared to last year, a surge in April’s incidents is raising concerns.

Historical Context

• The agency has faced criticism for not revealing true crime data in the past.
• In August 2025, a member of Congress launched an oversight probe into how the department tracks crimes, though the scope remains unclear.
• During this earlier probe, a former U.S. president remarked that Washington was manipulating numbers to give a false sense of safety, coinciding with the deployment of National Guard troops into the city.

Allegations of Reclassification

• The latest investigation began after the troop deployment and focuses on alleged reclassifications of crimes.
• A notable example: 390 thefts were reclassified as the lesser offense “taking property without a right,” which is treated as a misdemeanor.

Past Testimonies and Legal Actions

• In 2020, two former officers testified before the city council about data changes and later sued, claiming retaliation for speaking out.
• The current police chief assumed office after a wave of resignations tied to data manipulation.

Leadership and Reforms

• A former commander was placed on leave in May 2025 over similar accusations.
• The Justice Department found that a former chief had fostered a hostile environment potentially influencing statistics.
• The new chief pledged:
• Enhanced training on accurate crime recording
• An audit team for regular report verification

• Stricter classification rules

• The department’s spokesperson confirmed these plans.

External Response

The newspaper reached out to the congressional office for a comment, but no response was received.