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Metropolitan Police Department Chief of Police Pamela A. Smith is stepping down after two-and-a-half years, she and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Monday. Smith was appointed in 2023 and is the first Black woman to serve as chief of the D.C. police department. Smith took over as chief in July 2023, when D.C. was experiencing a spike in violent crime, particularly homicides. As chief, she has overseen a dramatic drop in crime in just about every category. The past four months, though, have been overshadowed by President Donald Trump’s federal law enforcement surge, a temporary presidential takeover of the police department, community outrage over D.C. police participation in federal immigration enforcement and two ongoing federal investigations into allegations police officials manipulated crime data. It’s an allegation Smith and Bowser firmly deny. Plus, just days ago, Bowser said she won’t seek reelection. Smith dismissed all of those as being factors in her decision to step down. “My decision was not factored into anything, with respect, other than the fact that it’s time,” she said. “I’ve had 28 years in law enforcement. I’ve had some time to think with my family.” “This has really been a fast-paced role because it is in a major city,” she added. “And I know that the challenges that we faced have, you know, we’ve had some high points and we’ve had some low points, but, respectfully, right now, this is a personal decision for myself and for my family.” Smith’s last day will be Dec. 31, the mayor’s office said. In a statement, Bowser said Smith was appointed during a “challenging time” for D.C. in which the focus was to drive down crime. She listed some of Smith’s accomplishments, including opening the Real-Time Crime Center while “navigating unprecedented challenges and attacks on our city’s autonomy.” “Chief Smith dramatically drove down violent crime, drove down the homicide rate to its lowest levels in eight years, and helped us restore a sense of safety and accountability in our neighborhoods,” Bowser said. “We are grateful for her service to Washington, DC.” Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Mar 19, 2024 ‘Passionate about reducing crime': DC police chief speaks on crime drop amid officer shortage Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Nov 7, 2023 DC Council confirms city's first Black female police chief In her own statement, Smith said the role was both challenging and rewarding and thanked D.C. residents for their “trust and partnership.” She said D.C. made “tremendous progress, and there remains work ahead.” “I am confident that the department is in a strong position and that the great work will continue, moving in a positive trajectory to combat crime and enhance public safety. Washington, DC is an extraordinary place to live, visit, and work, and I remain inspired by the resilience and spirit of this community,” Smith said. DC reacts to Smith stepping down Some people in D.C. said they could see why Smith decided to step down when she did because “it’s a lot of divisiveness in the city.” “I think a lot of people are feeling one way or another about the National Guard,” one person said. “[…] She probably just feels a little bit overrun.” In a statement, the DC Police Union said the union is grateful for Smith’s time in her role but they questioned the timing of the announcement. They said it comes amid an investigation into “allegations of manipulation of crime statistics and mismanagement within the MPD.” The investigation came after it was revealed the commander of MPD’s 3rd District was suspended after MPD accused him of changing crime statistics to minimize serious crimes. Smith said she had no comment on the union’s statement. Smith’s career as chief of police Before becoming chief, Smith had 25 years of police experience…

Labor organizations and advocates are calling for D.C. to raise the minimum wage to $25 an hour — including for tipped workers. Leaders of the ” DC Living Wage for All Campaign” said they’re filing an initiative to be on the November 2026 ballot. The initiative would raise minimum wage for all workers over several years. It would also eliminate the tip credit. The move comes months after the D.C. Council partially repealed Initiative 82 to cap tipped wages at 75% of the full minimum wage by the year 2034. Restaurant servers and other tipped workers would have been required to make the standard minimum wage by 2027. Labor leaders said the new measure is a way to “reverse the economic harm” caused by the Council’s decision. “Families across all eight wards are facing surging rents, rising food costs, record transit expenses, and some of the highest child care costs in the nation. Wages have failed to keep pace, and the Council’s decision to overturn the will of the voters on Initiative 82 pushed thousands of workers back into poverty pay,” organizers of the initiative said in a news release. “While corporations post record profits, too many workers in the District are still working multiple jobs to survive, falling behind on rent and loan payments, and living paycheck to paycheck under the nation’s highest cost of living.” Angry protests erupted when the D.C. Council passed its compromised amendment to Initiative 82 in July. “Worker after worker kept talking to me when they heard that the D.C. Council was going to take their pay raise, which ended up happening. And I remember my workers looked at me and they said, ‘They don’t realize what a two-worker pay raise they just stripped from me meant.’ Because everything is going up. But not their wages,” one employer said Monday at an event to announce the DC Living Wage for All Campaign. The new ballot initiative could become a key litmus test in D.C.’s mayoral race. Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George recently announced her plans to run for mayor. She voted against the amendment to Initiative 82 that limited wage increases. On July 1, D.C.’s regular minimum wage rose to $17.95 per hour. Currently, tipped employees are supposed to get paid $10 an hour plus any tips they receive.