By Peter Hermann
The chairman of the D.C. Council’s public safety committee
announced Thursday that he will hold an oversight hearing Jan. 24 on police
misconduct. It comes after three District officers were recently charged with
crimes.
Council member Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) said he wants to press
Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier on whether officers who are under stress or who
are involved in questionable behavior are being identified.
It is very important to me that residents have confidence in
our police officers to be upstanding citizens who are on the side of angels and
not people who commit crimes,” said Wells, who is running for mayor.
Two of the recently accused officers — both from the 7th
Police District were charged with sex-related crimes. Another officer
wascharged with attempted murder in a domestic incident.
Lanier has said that two of the officers were hired more
than 20 years ago when standards were lowered to increase the size of the
force.
Wells said the chief needs to do more to reassure the public
that officers are being properly monitored.
In an interview Thursday, Lanier said she would like to have
“as many meetings as possible to let people know the facts,” help stop rumors
and reassure the public about the quality of the officers. The chief is
scheduled to talk to residents Jan. 9 at the 7th District station in Southeast
Washington on misconduct issues.
The chief said in an op-ed published in The Washington Post
that 18 officers were accused of criminal misconduct in 2103. There are about
4,000 officers on the force.