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Washington, D.C., Police Chief Pamela A. Smith, the first Black woman to lead the Metropolitan Police Department, is stepping down after less than three years in the role.
Smith announced she will leave the position on December 31, marking the end of a tenure shaped by both historic crime challenges and unprecedented federal intervention in city policing.
“Serving as Chief of Police has been the greatest honor of my career. I am deeply humbled, grateful, and deeply appreciative of my time with the District of Columbia,” Smith said in a written statement.
Speaking to Fox 5 about her resignation, she explained that constant work and the loss of her mother pushed her to return to her family. “I have missed many amazing celebrations, birthdays, marriages, you name it… Coming home for Thanksgiving two years after my mom passed really resonated with me," she said.
Mayor Muriel Bowser praised Smith’s leadership during “significant urgency,” crediting her with expanding policing technology and helping reduce violent crime. Federal data released earlier this year showed violent crime in D.C. dropped sharply after major spikes in 2023, including a reported decline in homicides following historic highs. Smith’s departure comes amid heightened political tension between D.C. officials and President Trump’s administration, which has pressed for greater federal control over local police.
In August, Trump declared a public safety emergency and temporarily federalized MPD, deploying more than 2,000 National Guard troops to the city. Although that order expired, troops remain in the District through early 2026, and the president has suggested he may reinstate federal authority if the city does not cooperate with immigration enforcement.
Smith also exits as the department faces a federal investigation into allegations that police supervisors manipulated crime data. She has denied instructing anyone to alter statistics and said, “I would never say to anyone to alter stats,” but declined to comment further on personnel matters.
As her final day approaches, Smith said she believes the department is “in a strong position and that the great work will continue.” No timeline has been released for naming a successor, leaving D.C.’s public safety strategy unclear as both police leadership and city government face major transitions heading into 2026.
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