Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia

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Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
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Seal of the Metropolitan Police Department
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Flag of the District of Columbia
Pamela A. Smith 2023.webp
Incumbent
Pamela A. Smith (acting)
since 
  • July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17)
  • (2 years, 3 weeks and 6 days)
Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia
Reports to Mayor of the District of Columbia
Seat Washington, D.C., U.S.
AppointerMayor of the District of Columbia
PrecursorMajor and Superintendent
Formation1953
First holder Robert V. Murray
Salary$270,000 Base
Website http://MPDC.DC.gov

The Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, generally simply referred to as the Chief of Police, is the head of the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. The current acting Chief of Police is Pamela A. Smith, who succeeded interim chief, Ashan Benedict. [1] [2]

Contents

History

In 1861, the Metropolitan Police Board unanimously chose one of its members, William Benning Webb, to serve as the first chief of the Metropolitan Police, the formal title at the time being "Major and Superintendent". [3]

With effect from September 16, 1952, [4] the rank and title of Major and Superintendent was abolished and replaced with the position of Chief of Police. Robert V. Murray would be the last Major and Superintendent and the first Chief of Police of the MPD, [5] In 1953 Congress passed the District Government Reorganization Act, establishing a new Metropolitan Police Department with effect from June 26, 1953. [4]

Heads of the Metropolitan Police

The Metropolitan Police has a comprehensive list online of past and present police chiefs. [6]

Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department

NameTenureDuration
Pamela A. Smith (acting)July 17, 2023  –Present2 years and 27 days
Ashan Benedict (interim)May 24, 2023  –July 16, 20231 month and 22 days
Robert ConteeMay 4, 2021 –May 24, 20232 years and 20 days
Robert Contee (interim)January 2, 2021 –May 4, 20214 months and 2 days
Peter NewshamMay 2, 2017 –January 1, 20213 years, 7 months and 30 days
Peter Newsham (interim)September 15, 2016 –May 2, 20177 months and 17 days
Cathy L. LanierMay 4, 2007 –September 15, 2016 [7] 9 years, 4 months and 11 days
Cathy L. Lanier (interim)January 2, 2007 –May 4, 2007 [7] 4 months and 2 days
Charles H. Ramsey April 21, 1998 –December 28, 20068 years, 8 months and 7 days
Sonya Proctor (interim)November 25, 1997 –April 21, 19984 months and 27 days
Larry SoulsbyDecember 5, 1995 –November 25, 1997 [8] [9] 1 year, 11 months and 20 days
Fred ThomasJanuary 8, 1993 –July 7, 1995 [10] [11] 2 years, 5 months and 29 days
Isaac Fulwood August 4, 1989 –October 30, 1992 [12] [13] 3 years, 2 months and 26 days
Maurice T. Turner, Jr.July 1, 1981 –July 26, 1989 [14] 8 years and 25 days
Burtell M. JeffersonJanuary 12, 1978 –June 30 1981 [15] 3 years, 5 months and 18 days
Maurice J. Cullinane December 15, 1974 –January 11, 19783 years and 27 days
Jerry V. WilsonAugust 1, 1969 –September 30, 19745 years, 1 month and 29 days
John B. LaytonDecember 1, 1964 –July 31, 19694 years, 7 months and 30 days
Robert V. MurrayJune 26, 1953 –December 1, 196411 years, 5 months and 5 days

Chief of Police, Metropolitan Police

NameTenureDuration
Robert V. MurraySeptember 16, 1952 –June 26, 19539 months and 10 days

Major and Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police

NameTenureDuration
Robert V. MurrayDecember 1, 1951 –September 15, 19529 months and 14 days
Robert J. BarrettJuly 1, 1947 –November 30, 19514 years, 4 months and 29 days
Harvey G. CallahanFebruary 1, 1946 –June 30, 19471 year, 4 months and 29 days
Edward J. KellyNovember 1, 1941 –February 1, 19464 years and 3 months
Ernest W. BrownOctober 22, 1932 –November 1, 19419 years and 10 days
Pelham D. Glassford November 16, 1931 –October 20, 193211 months and 4 days
Henry G. PrattApril 1, 1929 –November 1, 19312 years and 7 months
Edwin B. HesseOctober 6, 1925 –April 1, 19293 years, 5 months and 26 days
Daniel SullivanFebruary 11, 1922 –October 1, 19253 years, 7 months and 20 days
Harry L. GessfordApril 19, 1920 –December 1, 19211 year, 7 months and 12 days
Raymond W. PullmanApril 1, 1915 –February 22, 19204 years, 10 months and 21 days
Richard H. Sylvester July 18, 1898 –April 1, 191516 years, 8 months and 14 days
William C. MooreDecember 8, 1886 –July 12, 189811 years, 7 months and 4 days
Samuel H. WalkerJuly 1, 1886 –December 1, 18865 months
William McEntyre Dye April 1, 1883 –June 30, 18863 years, 2 months and 29 days
William G. BrockDecember 1, 1879 –April 1, 18833 years and 4 months
Thomas P. MorganFebruary 2, 1878 –November 29, 18791 year, 9 months and 27 days
Almarin C. RichardsDecember 1, 1864 –January 28, 187813 years, 1 month and 27 days
William Benning Webb September 1861 –November 18643 years, 2 months

References

  1. ↑ "Who is Ashan Benedict | What to know about DC's interim police chief". wusa9.com. May 19, 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
  2. ↑ Riley, Fiona (2023-07-21). "Bowser selects D.C.'s next police chief". The GW Hatchet. Retrieved 2023-07-22.
  3. ↑ MPDC. "William B. Webb". mpdc.dc.gov. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  4. 1 2 "Title 4: Police and Fire Departments". District of Columbia Code 1951 Edition: Supplement VII. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office (published 1959). 1952. p. 129. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  5. ↑ MPDC. "Robert V. Murray". mpdc.dc.gov. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
  6. ↑ "Metropolitan Police Department Washington, D.C. - Annual Report: Fiscal Year Nineteen Eighty-Three" (PDF). MPDC. 1983. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  7. 1 2 Klein, Allison (May 5, 2007). "Sworn In as Chief, Lanier Recalls Struggles". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  8. ↑ Kyriakos, Marianne (December 7, 1995). "LATINOS LAUD POLICE PROMOTIONS". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  9. ↑ Thomas-Lester, Avis; Horwitz, Sari (November 27, 1997). "FOR CHIEF SOULSBY, A TIE OF FRIENDSHIP UNRAVELED A CAREER". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  10. ↑ Harriston, Keith A.; Thomas-Lester, Avis (January 9, 1993). "'MURDER CAPITAL' REPUTATION DERIDED BY NEW D.C. CHIEF". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  11. ↑ Castaneda, Ruben; Miller, Bill (June 26, 1995). "D.C. POLICE CHIEF LEAVING BEHIND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, RESENTMENTS". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  12. ↑ Sanchez, Carlos (August 5, 1989). "FULWOOD SWORN IN AS CHIEF, ASKS COMMUNITY FOR HELP". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  13. ↑ Weil, Martin (November 25, 1992). "D.C. USES RECENT LAW TO PUT FULWOOD BACK ON THE PAYROLL". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  14. ↑ Weil, Martin; Horwitz, Sari (June 17, 1993). "FORMER D.C. POLICE CHIEF MAURICE TURNER DIES AT 57". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  15. ↑ Williams, Brian N.; Kellough, J. Edward (2006-11-15). Riccucci, Norma M. (ed.). "Leadership with an Enduring Impact: The Legacy of Chief Burtell Jefferson of the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C." (PDF). Public Administration Review . 66 (6): 813–822. doi:10.1111/j.1540-6210.2006.00650.x. ISSN   1540-6210. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-05-02. Retrieved 2018-05-02.
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