Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia

The Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, generally simply referred to as the Chief of Police, is the head of the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. The current acting Chief of Police is Pamela A. Smith, who succeeded interim chief, Ashan Benedict.

History

In 1861, the Metropolitan Police Board unanimously chose one of its members, William Benning Webb, to serve as the first chief of the Metropolitan Police, the formal title at the time being "Major and Superintendent". With effect from September 16, 1952, the rank and title of Major and Superintendent was abolished and replaced with the position of Chief of Police. Robert V. Murray would be the last Major and Superintendent and the first Chief of Police of the MPD, In 1953 Congress passed the District Government Reorganization Act, establishing a new Metropolitan Police Department with effect from June 26, 1953.

Heads of the Metropolitan Police

The Metropolitan Police has a comprehensive list online of past and present police chiefs.