The Department of Justice is investigating whether the Washington Police, DC, manipulated the crime data so that the crime rates seem lower than they really are in the city, confirmed two senior officials responsible for enforcing the law to NBC News.
The investigation is being depleted from the Office of the lawyer of DCU Jeanine Pirro, officials said.
The investigation occurs after the NBC4 affiliate NBC4 reported last month that a commander of the Metropolitan Police Department, Michael Pulliam, was suspended and presented in May after the department began investigating it for altering the crime data. Pulliam has denied accusations.
However, this investigation is expected to go much further, looking at other police officers and the city for irregularities.
Washington Post reported for the first time that the Department of Justice had launched formal investigation.
President Donald Trump referred to the investigation in a publication on social networks on Monday.
“DC gave false crime numbers to create a false security illusion. This is something very bad and dangerous, and they are under a serious investigation to do it!” He wrote about Truth Social, while promoting his effort to make the area safer by mobilizing the federal agents of the Law and the National Guard.
“Until 4 days ago, Washington, DC, was the ‘city’ most insecure in the United States, and perhaps in the world. Now, in a short period of time, it may be the safest, and improving every hour!” He wrote.
It is not clear at this point which positions derive from this investigation.
Mayor Muriel Bowser has indicated DC Police data, indicating that violent crime has decreased 26% compared to last year to argue that Trump’s federal acquisition of the department is unnecessary.
Neither the Department of Justice nor the Office of the United States prosecutor are commenting on the investigation.
