The Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia unveiled its preliminary crime statistics for 2023 on Tuesday, revealing a concerning upswing in violence and homicide rates not witnessed in the nation’s capital since 1997.
The District of Columbia experienced a 35 percent surge in homicides, a 67 percent increase in robberies, and an 82 percent uptick in motor vehicle thefts during 2023. Total violent crime saw a 39 percent rise, while property crime increased by 24 percent.
The city recorded 274 homicides, 3,470 robberies, 1,092 burglaries, 6,829 motor vehicle thefts, 1,407 assaults with a dangerous weapon, and 13,349 other instances of theft. The population of the District of Columbia, according to U.S. census data, is nearly 679,000 people.
In 2020, the D.C. Council reduced the Metropolitan Police Department budget by $15 million. For the 2023 fiscal year, the D.C. Council approved slightly over $526 million for the Metropolitan Police Department, representing a 1.7 percent decrease from fiscal year 2022 when adjusted for inflation.
In 2022, the Metropolitan Police Department introduced the Chief Equity Officer position, filled by Pamela Smith. Her responsibilities included overseeing the department’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Under Smith’s leadership, the DEI team conducted a Metropolitan Police Department Cultural Assessment survey, revised the Vision, Mission, and Value Statements to align with DEI priorities, implemented DEI-specific training, and initiated a diversity and inclusion committee and resource group, as reported by the Metropolitan Police Department.
