According to Police1, a DC “police commander is under investigation for allegedly altering crime statistics in his district, NBC 4 Washington reported.“
A commander named Michael Pulliam of the 3rd district was placed on paid leave back in mid-May for this accusation.
According to Police 1, this commander was placed on leave after “he filed an equal employment opportunity complaint against Executive Assistant Chief Andre Wright, according to multiple law enforcement sources.”
Five sources told News4 that this commander is under investigation for “questionable changes to reported crime data.”
For the record he denies the allegations.
The Fraternal Order of Police has raised broader concerns about allegations of crime data manipulation to show declines in violent crime.
FOP Chairman Pemberton alleges officers are often instructed to downgrade serious felony reports to lesser offences.
President Trump has proposed federalization to crack down on serious crime in DC. Crime in DC has become an epidemic.
The Union alleges that this is being directed by the MPD command staff in order to keep crime stats low.
According to MPD data, “violent crime in D.C. was reported as down 28% compared to the same time last year. By Thursday, the figure was listed at 25%, with overall crime down 8%.”
Pemberton alleged the numbers are misleading. “There’s absolutely no way crime could be down 28%. Last year, they suggested that it went down 34%.”
Previously, there was an investigation into Pulliam’s wife, Capt. Rachel Pulliam.
Capt Rachel was reassigned to a midnight shift. This had happened in April.
MPD Chief Pamela Smith issued a statement on the allegations saying, “Any irregularity in crime data brought to my attention will be addressed immediately,” Smith said. “I do not condone any official reclassifying criminal offenses outside the guidelines set in MPD policy.”
NBC Washington reported on this story originally.
Read the full article here