Thirteen Washington, D.C., police officers have been placed on administrative leave amid an internal investigation into alleged manipulation of crime statistics, the Metropolitan Police Department confirmed this week. The development comes as U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro said her office had been investigating since August and accused department officials of downgrading serious crimes to make the city appear safer than it was.
The officers include Assistant Chief LaShay Makal and Second District Cmdr. Tatjana Savoy, according to The Washington Post. Interim MPD Chief Jeffery Carroll announced the disciplinary action Tuesday but emphasized that no one had been terminated.
"Beyond that, I cannot get into any specifics of the investigation," Carroll said during a press conference. "The administrative process must be allowed to take its course."
What the Right Is Saying
Republican leaders have embraced the investigation as validation of their concerns about public safety in the nation's capital. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) said his panel is seeking MPD's internal report for its own probe into crime reporting practices.
"Every single person who lives, works, or visits our nation's capital deserves a safe city, yet it's clear the American people were deliberately kept in the dark about the true crime rates in Washington," Comer said. "Our work is not done. I expect to receive MPD's internal report and all related documents to ensure crime data is reported accurately and that anyone responsible for manipulation is held accountable."
Pirro alleged that officials systematically reduced serious crimes to lesser categories, including downgrading assault with a dangerous weapon to reckless endangerment and burglary to unlawful entry. She defended the interim chief as "terrific" and said her office referred findings to internal affairs earlier this year.
What the Left Is Saying
Democrats and local officials have pushed back against the timing and framing of the federal probe. Critics note that President Trump used claims about inflated crime statistics last August as justification for surging federal law enforcement and National Guard troops into the capital, declaring the city a "crime-free zone" less than a month later despite skepticism from Democratic leaders.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser had previously criticized the federal intervention as unnecessary, arguing the city was handling crime through its own policing strategies. Local officials have also questioned whether the investigation is politically motivated rather than focused on genuine accountability.
Some Democrats have pointed to the turnover in police leadership following the federal takeover, suggesting that changes in department culture and priorities may be contributing to internal tensions rather than deliberate manipulation of data under previous leadership.
What the Numbers Show
Trump's administration pointed to MPD data showing a 14 percent decrease in overall crime and a 39 percent drop in violent crime since his executive order took effect last August. However, those figures were released by an administration that had publicly questioned the reliability of prior statistics.
Homicides, shootings, and carjackings have fallen steadily since 2023 according to MPD's own reporting. Carroll noted Thursday that the department continues to make progress on reducing crime throughout the city.
The House Oversight Committee alleged in a December report that former MPD Chief Pamela Smith pressured commanders to manipulate crime statistics. The committee's findings preceded the current internal investigation but have not been independently verified.
The Bottom Line
The placement of 13 officers on administrative leave marks an escalation in both the federal and departmental investigations into D.C.'s crime reporting practices. Pirro's comments suggesting she was unsurprised by the developments indicate the U.S. attorney's office expects further action.
The House Oversight Committee is expected to continue its separate probe, with Comer demanding MPD's internal report. It remains unclear whether the department will comply with that request.
What happens next depends on the outcome of both investigations. If evidence of systematic manipulation is confirmed, it could raise questions about policy decisions made based on crime data over recent years. The interim chief has emphasized his focus on continuing to reduce crime while the administrative process moves forward.