Before becoming Washington police chief, Smith served as chief of police for the United States Park Police. She served in a wide variety of positions — including in training, leading patrol, and handling disciplinary matters — in San Francisco, Washington, and New York before becoming Park Police chief.
Smith joined Washington police in May 2022 as the department’s first chief equity officer, and she “made a significant impact in a brief time span.”
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said Smith is a “well-respected leader” who has a “strong commitment to making D.C. safer.”
“She knows Washington, D.C., she knows MPD, she knows policing, and she understands very well the network of law enforcement and public safety teams that work to keep Washington, D.C., safe. And as we know, she is resilient and ready for this role,” Bowser said at a news conference on Monday at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library.
Smith’s appointment is a result of Bowser’s nationwide search, which she launched after Washington Police Chief Robert Contee retired in April to work for the FBI. Smith will replace interim chief Ashan Benedict.
Smith said at Monday’s news conference that she believes she brings “a fresh perspective, a different kind of energy, a different level of passion to what I’m going to do.”
Nothing ever changes. Absolutely nothing.
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise (HAAA HAA HAA)
I work with MPD frequently – they are not surprised. Business as usual.