WASHINGTON — After more than three decades with the Metropolitan Police Department, Chief Robert J Contee III plans to retire from the police force and become an assistant director with the FBI.
Contee first enrolled as a cadet with the police academy in 1989, joining the Metropolitan Police Department three years later.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser nominated Contee to the role of police chief in December 2020.
"In our city, there is much work to be done," Contee said during a press conference following his nomination. "We will keep trying until we will get it right."
His nomination came as the COVID-19 pandemic raged on. In an interview with WUSA9, Contee claimed lockdowns were making petty disputes worse, causing more violence in D.C. while distancing made it more difficult to deter crime.
While the pandemic continued, Contee officially stepped into the role just days before the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol.
During his two years as chief, Contee has faced several challenges, including staffing shortages, a rise in violent crime rates, and more crimes involving juveniles.
Staffing Shortages
Like many industries, local police departments are facing staffing issues.
In February 2022, Contee spoke about MPD's staffing issues during the D.C Council Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety Performance Oversight Hearing. He mentioned he was concerned about MPD staffing and that the department needs to focus on recruiting more officers to reduce overtime problems and fight violent crime. At that time, the department estimated it has lost more than 260 officers within 16 months, causing response times to go up by a minute and a half in 2021.
Earlier this month, Bowser announced plans to offer new police recruits up to $25,000 as a hiring bonus.
A Rise in Violent Crime
Violent crime has continued to rise across the District.
According to the MPD Crime Data, officers have reported 67 homicides so far this year. That number is up 20% from the same time in 2022.
Homicide is not the only crime that continues to increase in D.C., sex abuse is up 57% and arson is up by a whopping 600% Violent crime as a whole appears to be up 7% so far this year compared to 2022.
Many residents are concerned as reports of carjackings and thefts continue to occur. MPD reports that motor vehicle theft is up by 106%
Juvenile Crime
Concerns over juvenile involvement in crime, both as victims and suspects, have also been a concern during Contee's tenure.
"We're still seeing far too much of that in our city," Contee said during an interview with WUSA9 in October 2022. "One of the things that we're certainly focused on here in the Metropolitan Police Department."
During that same interview, Contee drew connections to the setbacks that beset young people as the pandemic raged on.
"As we kind of transition away from some of the restrictions that we saw during the pandemic, some of those social connections that our young people may have been lacking, I think it's really starting to show up now," he said.
Regardless of the reasoning, Contee said he believed youth who commit violent crimes need to be held more accountable in D.C.