WASHINGTON — D.C. Police Chief Robert J. Contee III is officially leaving the Metropolitan Police Department in June to join the FBI after just two years as police chief.
The announcement begs the question if two years is average for D.C. police chiefs.
Here's a look at D.C. police chiefs and how long they spent serving in that position:
- Robert J. Contee III: January 2021-present (2.3 years)
- Peter Newsham: September 2016 - December 2020 (4.3 years)
- Cathy L. Lanier: January 2007 - September 2016 (8.75 years)
- Charles H. Ramsey: April 1998 - December 2006 (7.75 years)
- Sonya Proctor (Interim): November 1997 - April 1998 (1.1 years)
- Larry Soulsby: July 1995 - November 1997 (2.4 years)
- Fred Thomas: December 1992 - July 1995 (2.6 years)
- Issac Fulwood: July 1989 - September 1992 (3.25 years)
- Maurice T. Turner, Jr.: July 1981 - July 1989 (8 years)
- Burtell M. Jefferson: January 1978 - June 1981 (3.5 years)
- Maurice J. Cullinane: December 1974 - January 1978 (3.1 years)
- Jerry V. Wilson: August 1969 - September 1974 (5.1 years)
- John B. Layton: December 1964 - July 1969 (4.6 years)
- Robert V. Murray: December 1951 - December 1964 (13 years)
- Robert J. Barrett: July 1947 - November 1951 (4.4 years)
- Harvey G. Callahan: February 1946 - June 1947 (1.4 years)
- Edward J. Kelly: November 1941 - February 1946 (4.3 years)
- Ernest W. Brown: October 1932 - November 1941 (9.1 years)
- Pelham D. Glassford: November 1931 - October 1932 (2 years)
- Henry G. Pratt: April 1929 - November 1931 (2.25 years)
- Edwin B. Hesse: October 1925 - April 1929 (3.5 years)
- Daniel Sullivan: February 1922 - October 1925 (3.75 years)
- Harry L. Gessford: April 1920 - December 1921 (1.75 years)
- Raymond W. Pullman: April 1915 - February 1920 (4.9 years)
- Richard Sylvester: July 1898 - April 1915 (16.8 years)
- William G. Moore: December 1886 - July 1898 (11.6 years)
- Samuel H. Walker: July 1886 - December 1886 (0.5 years)
- William M. Dye: April 1883 - June 1886 (3.25 years)
- William G. Brock: December 1879 - April 1883 (3.4 years)
- Thomas P. Morgan: February 1878 - November 1879 (1.8 years)
- A.C. Richards: December 1864 - January 1878 (13.1 years)
- William B. Webb: September 1861 - November 1864 (3.25 years)
On average, we found D.C. police chiefs spend at least five years serving in their position. That means Contee is leaving his post earlier than the average chief.
When Contee leaves office on June 3, he'll be tied for the seventh shortest-serving chief to date; he's tied with Chief Larry Soulsby, who served from 1995-1997. We aren't counting Sonya Proctor, who only served as interim chief for six months.
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