Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia

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The Metro Police is not the same as the United States Capitol Police.
Former MPDC Chief Charles H. Ramsey with his staff.
Former MPDC Chief Charles H. Ramsey with his staff.
An MPDC police cruiser outside George Washington University Hospital.
An MPDC police cruiser outside George Washington University Hospital.
Portal:Washington, D.C.
 Washington, D.C. Portal

The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, also known as the D.C. Police, MPD, MPDC, or colloquially as The Mets is the municipal police force for Washington, D.C. The syndicated CBS television series The District dramatized the daily ongoings of the police department and brought it international exposure.

Headed by a Chief of Police it was formed in 1861 in accordance with the personal wishes of then President, Abraham Lincoln, who had taken a personal interest in the establishment of regular police for the nation's capital. Upon the establishment of the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.), both the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia appointed constables to patrol the city. In 1802 the city was given police primacy and appointed a Watch of a Captain and 15 Watchmen, who patrolled until 1861.

The MPDC's duties include the provision of police services to the city and its inhabitants and to supplement the various federal security police forces in the city. MPDC maintains 3,800 sworn officers and 800 civilian support staff. It is unique in that twenty-five percent (25%) of its personnel are women and that 75% of its officers are African American. In 1978, it also became the first Police Department in a major city to become majority African American. It exercises concurrent jurisdiction with the United States Park Police, citywide in general and on National Park Service property in the District.

Due to the unique situation of the District, the MPDC must exercise not only the standard functions of a city police force, but also certain activities normally considered within the provenance of a county sheriff or state police agency.

Contents

[edit] Leadership

The current Chief of Police is Cathy L. Lanier, a former MPDC foot patrolman. Lanier is the first female chief of the MPDC. Lanier replaced Charles H. Ramsey, who served under former Washington D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams, on January 2, 2007.

[edit] Staffing

The Metropolitan Police Department has approximately 3,800 sworn personnel, comprised of 65% African American, 29% White American, 5% Hispanic American, and 1% Asian American.

[edit] Specialized units

  • Asian Liaison Unit
  • Civil Rights and Force Investigations Division
  • Corporate Communications
  • Criminal Records Section
  • Deaf and Hard of Hearing Liaison Unit
  • Domestic Violence Unit
  • Environmental Crimes Unit
  • Evidence Control Branch
  • Family Liaison Specialist Unit
  • Firearms Examination Section
  • Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit
  • Grants Program Administration
  • Harbor Patrol
  • Institute of Police Science
  • Latino Liaison Unit
  • Mobile Force
  • Office of Organizational Development
  • Police Training and Standards Board
  • Special Operations Division
  • Office of Youth Violence Prevention

[edit] Police districts with service areas

[edit] First District

[edit] Second District

[edit] Third District

[edit] Fourth District

  • 16th Street Heights
  • Carter Baron
  • Fort Totten
  • Lamond
  • Petworth
  • Riggs
  • Shepherd Park
  • Takoma

[edit] Fifth District

[edit] Sixth District

  • Fort Dupont

[edit] Seventh District

[edit] See also

[edit] References

    [edit] External links

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