D.C. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith said Tuesday that local and federal law enforcement “are here to work together” to carry out President Trump’s directive federalizing her 3,400-officer force.
Smith and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, met Tuesday morning at the Justice Department with their new law enforcement supervisors, including DEA chief Terry Cole, who will oversee the MPD.
Bowser told reporters she wants to “make the most of the additional officer support” as the White House boosts MPD ranks with personnel from federal agencies including the Border Patrol, FBI, DEA, and U.S. Park Police.
National Guard members will also have a presence on the streets of the capital, despite not being empowered to make arrests, New York Post reports.
Bowser said Tuesday that she wants to make sure that National Guard members and federal law enforcement are “being well used … to drive down crime.”
“We have more police, and we want to make sure we use them,” the mayor said.
Smith was optimistic after the meeting with Cole, saying outside the Justice Department that “I think this is going to be a good effort.”
The police chief said she was particularly interested in federal help to get “illegal guns” off the streets.
“We are here to work together with our federal partners,” she added, mentioning too that federal help could be used for “pockets of crime we would like to address.”
Smith and Bowser were asked on Tuesday if they understood the new chain of command when it comes to crimefighting in the nation’s capital.
Wath the clip below:
Reporter: "Do you know what the chain of command is now?"
Pamela Smith, D.C. Police Chief: "What does that mean?"
This is who is in charge of the police in D.C… pic.twitter.com/wGYPj7iNrg
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 12, 2025
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