| Post: | Chief |
| Body: | the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia |
| Flag: | Flag of Washington, D.C..svgborder |
| Flagsize: | 150px |
| Flagcaption: | Flag of the District of Columbia |
| Insignia: | Seal of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia.png |
| Insigniacaption: | Seal of the Metropolitan Police Department |
| Incumbent: | Pamela A. Smith (acting) |
| Department: | Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia |
| Reports To: | Mayor of the District of Columbia |
| Seat: | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Appointer: | Mayor of the District of Columbia |
| Precursor: | Major and Superintendent |
| Formation: | 1953 |
| First: | Robert V. Murray |
| Salary: | $120,100 |
The Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, generally simply referred to as the Chief of Police, is the head of the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. The current acting Chief of Police is Pamela A. Smith, who succeeded interim chief, Ashan Benedict.[1] [2]
In 1861, the Metropolitan Police Board unanimously chose one of its members, William Benning Webb, to serve as the first chief of the Metropolitan Police, the formal title at the time being "Major and Superintendent".[3]
With effect from September 16, 1952,[4] the rank and title of Major and Superintendent was abolished and replaced with the position of Chief of Police. Robert V. Murray would be the last Major and Superintendent and the first Chief of Police of the MPD,[5] In 1953 Congress passed the District Government Reorganization Act, establishing a new Metropolitan Police Department with effect from June 26, 1953.[4]
The Metropolitan Police has a comprehensive list online of past and present police chiefs.[6]
| Name | Tenure | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pamela A. Smith (acting) | July 17, 2023 Present | ||
| Ashan Benedict (interim) | May 24, 2023 July 16, 2023 | ||
| Robert Contee | May 4, 2021May 24, 2023 | ||
| Robert Contee (interim) | January 2, 2021May 4, 2021 | ||
| Peter Newsham | May 2, 2017January 1, 2021 | ||
| Peter Newsham (interim) | September 15, 2016May 2, 2017 | ||
| Cathy L. Lanier | May 4, 2007September 15, 2016 | ||
| Cathy L. Lanier (interim) | January 2, 2007May 4, 2007[7] | ||
| Charles H. Ramsey | April 21, 1998December 28, 2006 | ||
| Sonya Proctor (interim) | November 25, 1997April 21, 1998 | ||
| Larry Soulsby | December 5, 1995November 25, 1997[8] [9] | ||
| Fred Thomas | January 8, 1993July 7, 1995[10] [11] | ||
| Isaac Fulwood | August 4, 1989October 30, 1992[12] [13] | ||
| Maurice T. Turner, Jr. | July 1, 1981July 26, 1989[14] | ||
| Burtell M. Jefferson | January 12, 1978June 30 1981[15] | ||
| Maurice J. Cullinane | December 15, 1974January 11, 1978 | ||
| Jerry V. Wilson | August 1, 1969September 30, 1974 | ||
| John B. Layton | December 1, 1964July 31, 1969 | ||
| Robert V. Murray | June 26, 1953December 1, 1964 |
| Name | Tenure | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert V. Murray | December 1, 1951September 15, 1952 | ||
| Robert J. Barrett | July 1, 1947November 30, 1951 | ||
| Harvey G. Callahan | February 1, 1946June 30, 1947 | ||
| Edward J. Kelly | November 1, 1941February 1, 1946 | ||
| Ernest W. Brown | October 22, 1932November 1, 1941 | ||
| Pelham D. Glassford | November 16, 1931October 20, 1932 | ||
| Henry G. Pratt | April 1, 1929November 1, 1931 | ||
| Edwin B. Hesse | October 6, 1925April 1, 1929 | ||
| Daniel Sullivan | February 11, 1922October 1, 1925 | ||
| Harry L. Gessford | April 19, 1920December 1, 1921 | ||
| Raymond W. Pullman | April 1, 1915February 22, 1920 | ||
| Richard H. Sylvester | July 18, 1898April 1, 1915 | ||
| William C. Moore | December 8, 1886July 12, 1898 | ||
| Samuel H. Walker | July 1, 1886December 1, 1886 | ||
| William McEntyre Dye | April 1, 1883June 30, 1886 | ||
| William G. Brock | December 1, 1879April 1, 1883 | ||
| Thomas P. Morgan | February 2, 1878November 29, 1879 | ||
| Almarin C. Richards | December 1, 1864January 28, 1878 | ||
| William Benning Webb | September 1861November 1864 | 3 years, 2 months |