KEY POINTS
Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Administrator Terry Cole as Washington D.C.’s “emergency police commissioner,” a move aimed at transferring authority from the District’s current police chief, Pamela Smith. The directive, issued Thursday by Bondi, grants Cole “all of the powers and duties” of Chief Smith, sparking immediate legal challenges and backlash from local officials. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb quickly deemed Cole’s appointment unlawful and filed a lawsuit early Friday, urging Chief Smith not to comply.
Details of the Directive and Legal Challenge
Bondi’s directive stipulates that leaders within the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) must now secure approval from Cole before issuing any orders to officers. Additionally, the order rescinds several existing MPD policies and directs the department to assist federal authorities in immigration enforcement efforts.
In response, D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb sent a letter to Chief Smith, asserting that the federal government lacks the legal authority to directly alter the police department’s chain of command under the Home Rule Act. Schwalb stated his opinion that the “Bondi Order is unlawful, and that you are not legally obligated to follow it.”
Background of the Federal Takeover
Terry Cole, a career DEA agent with prior postings in Bogotá, Kabul, and Mexico City, was confirmed to his administrative position in July. He was initially named as the department’s interim federal administrator when the White House first announced its federalization of law enforcement in the nation’s capital.
The Trump administration’s broader efforts to combat crime in D.C. include a planned 30-day takeover of the District’s police force, with President Trump signaling an intent to seek an extension from Congress. Earlier this week, National Guard soldiers were deployed to patrol D.C. streets, a move that has also generated significant pushback and protests.
Local Reactions and Departmental Stance
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who was out of town when the directive was issued, previously stated alongside Chief Smith that MPD leaders would maintain decision-making authority. Mayor Bowser described the President’s actions as “unsettling and unprecedented.”
The Metropolitan Police Department issued a statement following the decision, refraining from offering an opinion on Cole’s appointment. A department spokesperson told NewsNation, “What’s most important for our community to know is that MPD remains committed to delivering high-quality police service and ensuring the safety of everyone in our city.”
The appointment of an “emergency police commissioner” by the Attorney General, amidst the ongoing federalization of D.C.’s law enforcement, has ignited a significant legal and political conflict over the control and autonomy of the District’s police force.
