WASHINGTON, D. C. – Attorney General Karl A. Racine today issued the below statement on Mayor Bowser’s decision to appoint Interim Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham as permanent leader of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

“I have worked with Pete Newsham regularly since I became Attorney General in January of 2015, and I have been impressed with his commitment to protecting District residents; he has my full confidence and support. Moreover, we at the Office of the Attorney General look forward to continuing our work with MPD under his leadership as well as our other public-safety partners as we coordinate to improve and reform the District’s criminal justice system.”