Uncovering Truth: A Retired Cop's Fight for Honesty in Crime Stats

A retired police sergeant, Charlotte Djossou, has been vocal about a long-standing issue within the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). She believes that the manipulation of crime statistics is not a new problem, but one that has been going on for years. Djossou, who spent 21 years with the MPD, has accused higher-ups, whom she refers to as "white shirts" (lieutenants and above), of cooking the books to make crime statistics look better than they are. In 2019, Djossou reported to her superiors that serious incidents were being minimized, but she faced retaliation for speaking out. After a lengthy lawsuit, she and the District settled before the case went to trial this year. Djossou's claims are supported by a draft report from the Department of Justice (DOJ), which found that the statistics were "likely unreliable and inaccurate. " The issue gained national attention when President Trump claimed that the District was creating an "illusion of safety" through false crime numbers. He announced that D. C. was under investigation. The DOJ has been looking into the matter, but they declined to comment when reached out to. The upcoming DOJ report, expected to be released soon, is anticipated to implicate Police Chief Pamela Smith. Djossou speculates that Smith was complicit and did what she was told. When asked who "they" are, Djossou pointed to the mayor's office. The mayor's office, however, declined to comment when reached out to. Djossou hopes that the DOJ investigation will lead to accountability and a change in culture within the MPD. She believes that this is the only way to ensure that crime statistics are accurate and reliable. Meanwhile, Ward 8 ANC Commissioner Salim Adofo has expressed his concerns about the documented crime. He stated that he cannot trust the data right now, as there are many incidents that do not make it into the police reports.