DC Council confirms Newsham as police chief

WASHINGTON – Peter Newsham told WTOP on Tuesday that he is honored to have been confirmed D.C.’s new police chief.

Newsham, a Ward 6 resident, has led the Metropolitan Police Department on an interim basis since last September, and is a 30-year veteran of the force.

“I’m very pleased the … 12 councilmembers felt as though they could support me as being their chief of police. In turn, I will do everything I can do to work cooperatively with them to make sure Washington, D.C., is the safest city in the country,” Newsham said hours after his confirmation.

The vote was 12-1; Councilmember David Grosso provided the only nay vote, which Newsham said he expected, given Grosso’s previous opposition in committee to his nomination. But Newsham said he is thankful the mayor gave him the autonomy to put changes in motion as interim and acting chief.

“We have made a number of changes since I’ve been in this role. As you know, we went to the sector concept. We instituted the summer crime initiative that is coming up. We also realigned the police department when Diane Groomes announced her retirement,” Newsham said.

Over the course of the last few months, the council held three public hearings to learn citizens’ thoughts about Newsham’s nomination. Some took issue with his role in the 2002 Pershing Park arrests, which cost the city police an $8.2 million settlement, and the arrests during inauguration weekend.

As part of Newsham’s confirmation, Charles Allen, chairman of the Commitee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, called for an independent review of how D.C. police handled the controversial arrests.

“We did what we had to do,” Newsham said. “I wish we didn’t have to make any arrests. But I don’t want anyone to confuse [the inauguration] arrests with demonstrations and protests, because that was a riot. And it’s unfortunate that we had to do that. And I think we’ll move forward with the council as we’re discussing this,” he said.

The chief has plans to increase patrols aimed at cracking down on ATV riders in the city, a problem which tends to ramp up during the summer.

“I think our agency is in a very, very good place. I consider our agency to be the best in the country and I couldn’t be more pleased to have the council support me in this endeavor,” Newsham said.