This week, officials in D.C. were quick to frame President Donald Trump’s decision to take over the city’s police as a chance for improvement. However, by Friday, the situation had escalated into an emergency, with the city suing the administration. They challenged the move to install an “emergency police commissioner” to usurp the full powers of the police chief and aimed to modify local police collaboration with immigration enforcement.
The fundamental issue at hand remains unclear: Who exactly has the authority to dictate law enforcement priorities in the nation’s capital as of Friday evening?
In her first message to officers on Monday, D.C. Police Chief Pamela A. Smith minimized the implications of the takeover, stating in an email obtained by The Washington Post that, “Our history of working with federal partners is well established.” However, by Friday, her tone shifted dramatically. In a sworn declaration to the U.S. District Court, she argued that Attorney General Pam Bondi’s order to grant full powers to DEA Administrator Terry Cole would disrupt the Metropolitan Police Department’s command structure, endangering both officer and public safety.
Smith expressed grave concerns that this new command format would send shockwaves through departmental operations:
“This disruption in command will jeopardize public safety, putting the lives of MPD officers and residents in serious jeopardy,” she emphasized. “The lack of clarity in leadership poses a higher risk to public safety for paramilitary organizations.”
Yet, as of Friday morning, it appeared that no one had a clear answer. When asked who was giving orders to officers following Bondi’s directive, a spokesperson for the D.C. police shifted that inquiry to the mayor’s office, which in turn referred back to the police department. Even during the hearing, U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes didn’t provide a clear-cut answer; she instead brokered a compromise to keep local command intact. The administration conceded that Cole would not take on police chief responsibilities, a decision that Mayor Muriel E. Bowser celebrated later that evening.
“I’m happy to report that, after a day in court and respecting our Home Rule, Pamela Smith remains the Chief of Police, in command of the 3,100 personnel at the Metropolitan Police Department,” Bowser declared.
However, the adjusted order from Bondi stated that Cole would “direct” the mayor to allocate D.C. police agents for federal priorities. Bondi also suggested that Cole might involve officers in immigration enforcement, which contradicts the existing D.C. police policies.
Amidst the legal drama, Cole made his presence known to D.C. police for the first time since his appointment as emergency commissioner. According to a post by the D.C. Police Union, he joined the roll call at the 1st Police District and instructed officers to maintain the existing chain of command and carry out lawful orders.
While the tension continues over who holds the reins of authority, the number of law enforcement personnel on the streets has noticeably increased. Over the course of the week, around 1,750 officers and agents participated in a federal operation late Thursday, according to a White House insider.
On Thursday night, federal agents wearing FBI, Customs and Border Protection, and Homeland Security badges surrounded three tents at Washington Circle but left without making any evictions. By Friday, online videos indicated that D.C. police returned to the area and dismantled the tents, despite some individuals receiving notices from the health department permitting them to stay a few more days.
A total of 30 vehicles were pulled over during a routine “traffic safety compliance checkpoint” at a busy intersection in Northwest Washington this Wednesday. However, the presence of ICE officers led to many onlookers gathering when it became apparent that drivers who were initially stopped for minor infractions, like seat-belt violations, were being questioned further. A local comedy show in Columbia Heights also transformed into an unexpected protest when around 30 law enforcement officials, including U.S. Border Patrol agents, allegedly arrested a 25-year-old involved in operating an illegal dirt bike.
In a Friday post, Bondi highlighted that since Trump initiated a federal presence in D.C., there have been 189 arrests. Out of these, immigration enforcement officers made 75 of the apprehensions. Bondi’s order aimed to dismantle restrictions hindering D.C. police collaboration with ICE, signaling that the Trump administration intends to leverage control of D.C. police to ramp up immigration enforcement. Of all arrests reported by the White House on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, more than half pertained to immigration issues, although it remains uncertain how involved D.C. police were in these actions.
Although law enforcement has been highly visible across the city this week, with National Guard vehicles positioned at the Washington Monument and various law enforcement units stationed outside a Southeast housing complex, no federal personnel were present at the site of the District’s 100th homicide this year. This is notably the first homicide since Trump’s declaration of taking federal control of D.C. police. Tragically, Tymark Wells was shot in the area just near where two significant homicides referenced by Trump took place during his news conference. D.C. officials at the scene on Monday reported that federal agencies had not taken part in the response to the incident.
The intense power struggle is expected to be further addressed when court proceedings resume next week, at which time Judge Reyes may rule on whether Trump can instruct D.C. police to enforce immigration laws. For now, both D.C. police and federal officers will continue their patrols in the District while leaders anxiously navigate this leadership crisis.
