Screenshot Courtesy of WUSA 9 / YouTube
Congratulations are in order for Washington D.C.’s first Black woman police chief Pamela A. Smith, WUSA 9 reported.
Mayor Muriel Bowser announced on Monday Smith, who has had a career in law enforcement for 25 years, would take over as the Metropolitan Police Department’s new chief of police.
During a press conference, Smith expressed her excitement to use her new position to incite positive change in the city, which has seen a rise in crime.
“Make no mistake about it. On today, I am proud, I am humble and I am excited to work alongside this team,” Smith exclaimed. “Joining the MPD as your chief of police is a monumental occasion. And this historic moment is not lost on me. I joined a legacy of strong African-American women who lead public safety in the District of Columbia.”
Prior to becoming police chief, Smith has the resume to prove no one was more equipped for the job than her. She was the Assistant Chief of the Homeland Security Bureau (HSB), including the Special Operations Division and the Joint Strategic and Tactical Analysis Command Center.
For 24 years, she was a police officer for the United States Park. In 2022, Smith joined the MPD as a Chief Equity Officer (CEO) and contributed to their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts.
Because she was a part of the MPD before her new position amid the crime rise, an attendee asked if she would modify the department’s course of action towards the crime or continue with the department’s plans.
“I think when we think about what’s happening across the District of Columbia as it relates to crime, I truly believe in the crime-fighting strategies that we here at the District of Columbia with our Metropolitan Police Department,” she said. “One of the things that we will continue to do is enhance upon our traffic safety compliance checkpoints.”
She also mentioned efforts to deploy officers into areas with high crime rates and to enhance recruitment efforts.
Smith acknowledged that the MPD could do better, and she will “take the charge in ensuring that I am out there conducting public safety walks in our district with our community.” She will also ensure officers know her expectations as chief of police.