The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has been accused of deliberately underreporting crime rates, according to the head of the department's police union.
This revelation was made during an interview with Fox News host Martha MacCallum, raising serious concerns about the integrity of crime statistics in the nation's capital.
As reported by Conservative Daily News, despite assertions from Democratic leaders that violent crime has decreased by approximately one-third, the MPD's data allegedly omits instances of aggravated and felony assault. These offenses are classified as violent under Washington laws. Washington Police Union Chairman Gregg Pembleton disclosed to MacCallum on "The Story" that officers are often instructed to downplay certain crimes in their reports.
"Regrettably, a captain, commander, or sometimes a lieutenant will arrive at the scene and instruct them to record a lesser offense," Pembleton stated. He further explained that in some instances, serious crimes like shootings or stabbings are downgraded to mere incident reports if the victim is uncooperative, a common occurrence in certain parts of the city.
"Sometimes a robbery is reported as a theft, and other times burglaries are reported as unlawful entry or thefts," he added.
Pembleton expressed skepticism about the accuracy of these crime statistics, stating, "This has unfortunately been a part of the police department for some time."
The allegations of data manipulation have led to the suspension of a high-ranking MPD official, Michael Pulliam. NBC Washington reported that the Trump administration has initiated an investigation into these allegations of false reporting.
When MacCallum questioned the motivation behind this alleged manipulation, Pembleton suggested that it was a political strategy. "The only explanation would be to keep the crime stats down because politically that's expedient for the police department and elected officials," he responded.
Pembleton traced the issue back to 2020 when the D.C. city council passed a justice reform act. This legislation aimed to reduce the size, scope, and responsibilities of police officers and limited their ability to hold criminals accountable, even when convicted.
The consequences of these policies have been dire. Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, an intern for Republican Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas, was fatally shot on June 30 during a gunfight near the White House. Additionally, two employees of the Israeli Embassy were killed in a May shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum, allegedly by a pro-Hamas activist.
Pembleton revealed that the police department, which is authorized to have 4000 sworn members, currently only has 3180, leaving over 800 vacancies. To compensate for this shortfall, the department has resorted to 2 million hours of mandatory overtime.
"As a result, crime has skyrocketed in the district," he said. He suggested that the underreporting of crime statistics could be an attempt to present the situation in a more favorable light.
The MPD has yet to respond to these allegations, leaving the public to question the reliability of crime statistics and the effectiveness of law enforcement in the nation's capital. The implications of these revelations extend beyond the city's borders, raising questions about the integrity of crime reporting nationwide and the potential political motivations behind it.
Login