Investigation Uncovers Misclassification of Crime Reports in D.C.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, announced on Monday that a lengthy federal investigation has revealed extensive misclassification of crime reports by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). This, she explained, has led to what she described as “artificially low” crime statistics in Washington, D.C.

The investigation, which included a review of nearly 6,000 reports and interviews with over 50 witnesses, indicates that the actual number of crimes in the district is significantly underestimated. “It is clear that a significant number of reports were misclassified, making crime seem artificially lower than it actually was,” Pirro stated.

While Pirro noted that the actions of the MPD “do not rise to the level of criminal charges,” she underscored that it is the responsibility of the police department to address these issues internally.

Pirro’s office initiated this scrutiny of inflated crime statistics last August, a direct response to President Trump’s federal crime initiative in the area. The President had issued an executive order to tackle what he termed a “crime epidemic” in the nation’s capital, deploying federal law enforcement resources, including the National Guard.

“The unveiling of these manipulated crime statistics suggests that President Trump may have reduced crime even more than we initially believed, given that the actual crime figures are higher than reported,” Pirro commented. She further claimed that his efforts have contributed to greater safety for district residents.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office did not respond immediately to inquiries regarding the investigation’s details.

Pirro’s remarks followed a report from the House Oversight Committee that alleged Police Chief Pamela Smith, who resigned on December 8, managed a system that interfered with accurate crime reporting. The Republican-led committee claimed that Smith pressured commanders to downgrade criminal classifications and retaliated against those who reported increases.

MPD has yet to respond to requests for comment about the allegations. It certainly raises questions about accountability and how crime statistics are reported and managed in the nation’s capital.