DOJ probes DC police data manipulation

The Justice Department is examining whether Washington DC police manipulated crime data to appear safer.

Justice Department investigates DC police data manipulation

The Justice Department has opened a formal inquiry into whether crime data reported by the Metropolitan Police Department were altered to show lower crime rates. The probe runs from the U.S. Attorney for DC’s office and follows earlier reporting about a commander facing suspension for alleged data changes. The commander, Michael Pulliam, denies the allegations, and officials say the investigation could extend beyond a single case.

Public attention has grown as political figures weighed in. President Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social that DC gave fake crime numbers to create a false safety image, while Mayor Muriel Bowser has cited police data to argue that federal takeover is unnecessary. The DC Police Union has questioned the numbers’ accuracy, and officials say no charges have been filed yet. Neither the Justice Department nor the U.S. Attorney’s Office commented, and the Metropolitan Police Department did not respond to requests for comment.

The case tests trust between city leadership, police and residents. Data integrity in crime reporting matters beyond numbers; it shapes policies, budgets and how safe people feel in their neighborhoods. If the investigation broadens beyond one commander, the issue becomes a larger question about how policing data is produced, audited and verified.

The political context adds risk. Public officials are using numbers to argue for different directions in governance and federal involvement. The outcome could influence how communities view accountability, reforms and oversight in urban policing. The moment calls for clear, independent standards and transparent practices so the city can rebuild trust regardless of the investigation’s final findings.

Highlights

Ongoing oversight will test how DC balances transparency with accountability