Mayor Bowser requested the report after federal accusations of manipulated data
The Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s crime statistics collection experienced a “prolonged, systemic breakdown of its internal control system,” according to a report released Tuesday by the District of Columbia’s inspector general.
The investigation, requested in December by Mayor Muriel Bowser, reviewed MPD crime data from 2015 through 2025. “We found that MPD’s crime reporting controls broke down significantly during the period we examined,” the report said. While the inspector general found no indication of fraud or intentionality in the flaws, the report recommended a series of steps meant to ensure accuracy in the data gathering going forward.
The police force’s crime statistics collection has faced increased scrutiny since President Donald Trump issued a monthlong emergency order last summer that federalized the D.C. police force and launched a law enforcement operation in the nation’s capital that his administration said was meant to fight crime. Federal authorities had accused the department of manipulating the figures, prompting Mayor Bowser to request the inspector general’s review.