WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� The Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s crime statistics collection experienced a 鈥減rolonged, systemic breakdown of its internal control system,鈥� according to a report released Tuesday by the city鈥檚 inspector general, which reviewed the department’s process after accusations by the federal government that figures were manipulated.
The investigation, , reviewed MPD crime data from 2015 through 2025. While the report did not indicate any fraud or intentionality in the flaws in the crime stats collection, it recommended a series of steps meant to ensure accuracy in the data gathering going forward.
鈥淲e found that MPD鈥檚 crime reporting controls broke down significantly during the period we examined,鈥� it said.
The police force鈥檚 crime statistics collection faced increasing scrutiny after President Donald Trump issued a monthlong last summer that federalized the police force and launched in the nation鈥檚 capital that his Republican administration said was meant to .
Local officials maintained that crime was already dropping when Trump took the action. Critics said the problematic statistics erroneously downplayed the true impact of Trump鈥檚 initiative.
The report made five recommendations to the department, including establishing a permanent, independent crime report review function with personnel who are appropriately trained with the authority to return reports to officers for correction.
It highlighted the 2013 dissolution of an independent unit that reviewed the statistics gathering process, which the report said led to crime classification errors and meant that incomplete explanations could pass through the approval process, uncorrected.
鈥淐rime data is the informational foundation on which MPD makes operational decisions, the District allocates resources, and the public evaluates the safety of its community,鈥� the report concluded. When that data is unreliable 鈥渢he consequences extend beyond inaccurate statistics.鈥�
The report did not weigh in more broadly on Trump’s law enforcement efforts in Washington.
The report noted that in recent months the department has taken steps to address concerns in crime classification and reporting.
An emailed response from MPD said a number of steps the department is taking, including increased training, as well as the creation of the Data Quality and Compliance Branch to 鈥渆nforce objective reporting, and conduct systematic reviews of police reports.鈥�
A Republican-led House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform accused Washington’s former police chief of pressuring subordinates to manipulate department data to artificially lower the city鈥檚 crime rates.
A by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro鈥檚 office also found that a significant number of MPD reports had been misclassified to make crime rates appear lower than they are.
Pirro鈥檚 office began its investigation in August at the height of a political showdown between Trump鈥檚 administration and the city over control of the police department. Trump claimed violent crime in Washington was getting worse as he ordered a federal takeover of the .
Neither investigation found grounds for charging anybody with a crime.
In May, Washington interim Police Chief Jeffery had been placed on administrative leave in connection with an internal investigation into how the department keeps crime statistics.
Eleven are still on administrative leave and two have 鈥渟eparated from services,鈥� the department said in an email.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
