President Trump Demands Probe as Evidence Mounts of Manipulated DC Crime Stats
Official MPD data shows a 30% violent crime drop since 2023, but critics argue misclassification masks reality, affecting resource allocation and public trust.
President Trump called for a full investigation into Washington, D.C.'s crime statistics, accusing city officials of fabricating numbers to create a "false illusion of safety," amid resurfacing evidence from a settled whistleblower lawsuit and ongoing police probes.
On Truth Social Monday, President Trump posted: "D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety. This is a very bad and dangerous thing to do, and they are under serious investigation for so doing!" The Justice Department declined comment on any probe when asked.
The allegations gained traction after the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) quietly settled a 2020 retaliation lawsuit from Sergeant Charlotte Djossou, a 20-year veteran, just days before President Trump's federal takeover of MPD on August 11. Djossou claimed MPD systematically downgraded felonies to misdemeanors from 2014-2020 to inflate performance metrics tied to promotions. Her complaint detailed racial targeting, improper searches, and commanders pressuring officers to reduce stats, stating: "MPD has a long history of trying to distort crime statistics."
A key exhibit: A 2019 phone transcript where Captain Sean Conboy approved classifying a knife assault as simple assault (misdemeanor) despite no injury, contradicting D.C. code defining assault with a dangerous weapon as a felony regardless of harm. Djossou faced retaliation, including demotions and transfers, after reporting. The out-of-court settlement avoided a jury trial, with terms undisclosed.
Further evidence emerged in May when Commander Michael Pulliam was suspended for alleged data manipulation after filing an EEO complaint against superiors. The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) asserted this reflects a command staff directive to keep stats low, avoiding FBI scrutiny on violent crimes. FOP Chairman Gregg Pemberton told NBC4: "This is deliberately done."
Official MPD data shows a 30% violent crime drop since 2023, but critics argue misclassification masks reality, affecting resource allocation and public trust. John Lott, former Crime Prevention Research Center president, noted such practices hinder funding and policing priorities.
President Trump's federalization deployed National Guard and agents to combat crime and homelessness, overriding local stats he deems fraudulent. Fact-checks from outlets like CNN and NYT label his claims exaggerated, but acknowledge youth crime spikes and data inconsistencies. MPD did not respond to inquiries.
As scrutiny intensifies, the DOJ's potential investigation could expose systemic issues, validating long-standing whistleblower concerns and justifying federal oversight.
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