Washington Appoints Emergency Police Chief Amid Crisis: Key Details Revealed

The US government is further tightening control over security agencies in the capital. Attorney General Bondi appointed an “Emergency Police President” for Washington, a move deemed “illegal” by Washington’s Attorney General.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi has named the head of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Terry Cole, as the “Emergency Police President” of Washington D.C. Under this new directive, the local police must not issue any orders without the consent of DEA Chief Terry Cole. Cole assumes the powers and responsibilities of Police Chief Pamela Smith, requiring the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPD) to seek Cole’s approval for future actions.

Washington D.C.’s Attorney General, Brian Schwalb, considers Bondi’s move regarding the federal takeover of the police to be “illegal.” He argues that the instructions cannot be followed because, according to Schwalb’s interpretation of the law, local police officers should continue to follow orders from Police Chief Smith—not from the Attorney General.

Washington’s Mayor, Muriel Bowser, stated on social media that there is “no law that transfers the district’s personnel powers to a federal officer.”

The directive from Bondi was issued just hours after Police Chief Smith announced an initiative to deepen cooperation between local police and U.S. immigration officers. Smith had directed MPD officers to also share information about individuals who are not in custody, such as those involved in traffic stops or detained at checkpoints.

The Justice Department stated that Bondi opposes this directive as it continues to allow so-called sanctuary policies—rules that protect illegal immigrants from federal enforcement. Bondi announced that she would repeal this order and other MPD policies that limited inquiries into immigration status and prevented arrests based on federal warrants.

President Donald Trump recently placed the police of the capital district under federal oversight and sent 800 National Guard troops to Washington D.C., citing a supposedly catastrophic security situation.

The White House reported that on the night of Thursday (local time), 45 individuals were arrested, with 29 suspected of being in the USA illegally. A checkpoint set up in a popular nightlife district has sparked protests, according to the Associated Press.