Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia
| Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the Metropolitan Police Department | |
 Flag of the District of Columbia | |
| Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia | |
| Reports to | Mayor of the District of Columbia |
| Seat | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Appointer | Mayor of the District of Columbia |
| Precursor | Major and Superintendent |
| Formation | 1953 |
| First holder | Robert V. Murray |
| Salary | $120,100 |
| Website | http://MPDC.DC.gov |
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 post is currently held by Robert J. Contee III who assumed the position on January 2, 2021.
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".[1]
In 1953 Congress passed the District Government Reorganization Act. It formally abolished the rank and title of Major and Superintendent and replaced it 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.[2]
The Metropolitan Police has a comprehensive list online of past and present police chiefs.
Heads of the Metropolitan Police
Chief of Police
- Robert Contee (interim) January 2021 –
- Peter Newsham May 2017 – January 2021
- Peter Newsham (interim) September 2016 – May 2017
- Cathy L. Lanier January 2007 – September 2016
- Charles H. Ramsey April 1998 – December 2006
- Sonya Proctor (interim) November 1997 – April 1998
- Larry Soulsby July 1995 – November 1997
- Fred Thomas December 1992 – July 1995
- Isaac Fulwood July 1989 – September 1992
- Maurice T. Turner, Jr. July 1981 – July 1989
- Burtell M. Jefferson January 1978 – June 1981[3]
- Maurice J. Cullinane December 1974 – January 1978
- Jerry V. Wilson August 1969 – September 1974
- John B. Layton December 1964 – July 1969
- Robert V. Murray December 1951 – December 1964
Major and Superintendent
- Robert V. Murray December 1951 – December 1964
- Robert J. Barrett July 1947 – November 1951
- Harvey G. Callahan February 1941 – June 1947
- Edward J. Kelly November 1941 – February 1946
- Ernest W. Brown October 1932 – November 1941
- Pelham D. Glassford November 1931 – October 1932
- Henry G. Pratt April 1929 – November 1931
- Edwin B. Hesse October 1925 – April 1929
- Daniel Sullivan February 1922 – October 1925
- Harry L. Gessford April 1920 – December 1921
- Raymond W. Pullman April 1915 – February 1920
- Richard H. Sylvester July 1898 – April 1915
- William C. Moore December 1886 – July 1898
- Samuel H. Walker July 1886 – December 1886
- William McEntyre Dye April 1883 – June 1886
- William G. Brock December 1879 – April 1883
- Thomas P. Morgan February 1878 – November 1879
- A. C. Richards December 1864 – January 1878
- William Benning Webb September 1861 – November 1864
References
- ^ MPDC. "William B. Webb". mpdc.dc.gov. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
- ^ MPDC. "Robert V. Murray". mpdc.dc.gov. Retrieved 2014-02-10.
- ^ Williams, Brian N.; Kellough, J. Edward (2006-11-15). Riccucci, Norma M. (ed.). "Leadership with an Enduring Impact: The Legacy of Chief Burtell Jefferson of the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C." (PDF). Public Administration Review. 66 (6): 813–822. doi:10.1111/j.1540-6210.2006.00650.x. ISSN 1540-6210. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-05-02. Retrieved 2018-05-02.