Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia

Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
Seal of the Metropolitan Police Department
Flag of the District of Columbia
Incumbent
Pamela A. Smith (acting)
since 
  • July 17, 2023 (2023-07-17)
  • (1 year, 5 months, 1 week and 4 days)
Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia
Reports toMayor of the District of Columbia
SeatWashington, D.C., U.S.
AppointerMayor of the District of Columbia
PrecursorMajor and Superintendent
Formation1953
First holderRobert V. Murray
Salary$120,100
Websitehttp://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]

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

Name Tenure Duration
Pamela A. Smith (acting) July 17, 2023  – Present 1 year, 5 months and 11 days
Ashan Benedict (interim) May 24, 2023  – July 16, 2023 1 month and 22 days
Robert Contee May 4, 2021 – May 24, 2023 2 years and 20 days
Robert Contee (interim) January 2, 2021 – May 4, 2021 4 months and 2 days
Peter Newsham May 2, 2017 – January 1, 2021 3 years, 7 months and 30 days
Peter Newsham (interim) September 15, 2016 – May 2, 2017 7 months and 17 days
Cathy L. Lanier May 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, 2006 8 years, 8 months and 7 days
Sonya Proctor (interim) November 25, 1997 – April 21, 1998 4 months and 27 days
Larry Soulsby December 5, 1995 – November 25, 1997[8][9] 1 year, 11 months and 20 days
Fred Thomas January 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. Jefferson January 12, 1978 – June 30 1981[15] 3 years, 5 months and 18 days
Maurice J. Cullinane December 15, 1974 – January 11, 1978 3 years and 27 days
Jerry V. Wilson August 1, 1969 – September 30, 1974 5 years, 1 month and 29 days
John B. Layton December 1, 1964 – July 31, 1969 4 years, 7 months and 30 days
Robert V. Murray June 26, 1953 – December 1, 1964 11 years, 5 months and 5 days

Chief of Police, Metropolitan Police

Name Tenure Duration
Robert V. Murray September 16, 1952 – June 26, 1953 9 months and 10 days

Major and Superintendent of the Metropolitan Police

Name Tenure Duration
Robert V. Murray December 1, 1951 – September 15, 1952 9 months and 14 days
Robert J. Barrett July 1, 1947 – November 30, 1951 4 years, 4 months and 29 days
Harvey G. Callahan February 1, 1946 – June 30, 1947 1 year, 4 months and 29 days
Edward J. Kelly November 1, 1941 – February 1, 1946 4 years and 3 months
Ernest W. Brown October 22, 1932 – November 1, 1941 9 years and 10 days
Pelham D. Glassford November 16, 1931 – October 20, 1932 11 months and 4 days
Henry G. Pratt April 1, 1929 – November 1, 1931 2 years and 7 months
Edwin B. Hesse October 6, 1925 – April 1, 1929 3 years, 5 months and 26 days
Daniel Sullivan February 11, 1922 – October 1, 1925 3 years, 7 months and 20 days
Harry L. Gessford April 19, 1920 – December 1, 1921 1 year, 7 months and 12 days
Raymond W. Pullman April 1, 1915 – February 22, 1920 4 years, 10 months and 21 days
Richard H. Sylvester July 18, 1898 – April 1, 1915 16 years, 8 months and 14 days
William C. Moore December 8, 1886 – July 12, 1898 11 years, 7 months and 4 days
Samuel H. Walker July 1, 1886 – December 1, 1886 5 months
William McEntyre Dye April 1, 1883 – June 30, 1886 3 years, 2 months and 29 days
William G. Brock December 1, 1879 – April 1, 1883 3 years and 4 months
Thomas P. Morgan February 2, 1878 – November 29, 1879 1 year, 9 months and 27 days
Almarin C. Richards December 1, 1864 – January 28, 1878 13 years, 1 month and 27 days
William Benning Webb September 1861 – November 1864 3 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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.