What’s Washington DC’s “fake crime numbers” that Trump wants to probe

Federal prosecutors in the US have opened a criminal investigation into allegations that the Washington, DC, police department systematically manipulated crime statistics to make the city appear safer.

The investigation, being led by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia under Jeanine Pirro, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing standoff between the Trump administration and DC officials over federal control of the local police.

While the Justice Department has not publicly commented on the probe, Trump appeared to confirm the investigation in a social media post Monday, claiming that DC officials provided “fake crime numbers” to create a “false illusion of safety” and were now “under serious investigation.”

Allegations of data falsification

The investigation reportedly began following the suspension of Commander Michael Pulliam of the Metropolitan Police Department in May.

Pulliam, formerly in charge of Washington’s 3rd District, was accused by the city’s police union of altering crime data. Allegations include downgrading violent crimes such as stabbings and carjackings to less serious offences.

Federal prosecutors are now looking into potential misconduct not only by Pulliam but by multiple police and city officials. Meanwhile, Pulliam has denied all the claims.

Union, City Officials at Odds

Head of Washington DC’s police union, Gregg Pemberton, dismissed official crime statistics as “preposterous.” He argued that rank-and-file officers are overwhelmed by violent crime and suggested that police leadership had instructed staff to downplay crime reports.

“What we’ve heard through our members and through members of management that were willing to talk with the union is that this is a directive from the command staff … that they wanna make sure that these classifications of these reports are adjusted over time to make sure that the overall crime stats stay down,” Pemberton said.

Mayor Muriel Bowser has repeatedly cited police data showing a 27 per cent drop in violent crime over the past year to oppose Trump’s push for federal control of the city’s police. Separate department figures indicated a 35 per cent decrease in violent crime during 2024.