<img width="1024" height="574" src="https://i0.wp.com/newspack-washingtoncitypaper.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/08/Trump-presser-Aug.-11.jpg?fit=1024%2C574&quality=89&ssl=1" class="attachment-rss-image-size size-rss-image-size wp-post-image" alt="Trump's taking control of the Metropolitan Police Department and deploying 800 National Guard troops in the city" decoding="async" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/newspack-washingtoncitypaper.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/08/Trump-presser-Aug.-11.jpg?w=1180&quality=89&ssl=1 1180w, https://i0.wp.com/newspack-washingtoncitypaper.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/08/Trump-presser-Aug.-11.jpg?resize=300%2C168&quality=89&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/newspack-washingtoncitypaper.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/08/Trump-presser-Aug.-11.jpg?resize=1024%2C574&quality=89&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/newspack-washingtoncitypaper.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/08/Trump-presser-Aug.-11.jpg?resize=768%2C430&quality=89&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/newspack-washingtoncitypaper.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/08/Trump-presser-Aug.-11.jpg?resize=780%2C437&quality=89&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/newspack-washingtoncitypaper.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/08/Trump-presser-Aug.-11.jpg?resize=400%2C224&quality=89&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/newspack-washingtoncitypaper.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/08/Trump-presser-Aug.-11.jpg?fit=1024%2C574&quality=89&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw – 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw / 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw / 12)), 100vw" data-attachment-id="769044" data-permalink="https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/769038/trump-takes-control-of-d-c-police-department-and-deploys-800-national-guard-troops-in-the-city/screenshot-12/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/newspack-washingtoncitypaper.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2025/08/Trump-presser-Aug.-11.jpg?fit=1180%2C661&quality=89&ssl=1" data-orig-size="1180,661" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"Screenshot","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Screenshot","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Trump’s taking control of the Metropolitan Police Department and deploying 800 National Guard troops in the city" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="

Trump with silence buyer and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi at the Aug. 11 press conference; screenshot

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U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday to replace the chief of the Metropolitan Police Department with an emergency police commissioner. She also rescinded or suspended MPD policies that prohibit officers from helping with immigration enforcement.

In a letter dated Aug. 14, Bondi directs Bowser to install DEA Administrator Terry Cole as commissioner. Cole has served as MPD’s federal overseer since convicted felon and President Donald Trump seized control of the department earlier this week. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb issued a legal opinion Thursday night calling the order “unlawful,” and telling Bowser “you are not legally obligated to follow it.”

Bondi’s letter says “Cole shall assume all the powers and duties vested in the District of Columbia Chief of Police,” Bondi’s order says. “Commissioner Cole shall have the authority to issue any general orders, executive orders, or other written directives that apply to Members of the MPD.

“Existing MPD leadership, including the current Chief of Police, members of the Executive Office of the Chief of Police, Bureau Heads/Executive Staff, and Commanders must receive approval from Commissioner Cole before issuing any further directives to the MPD,” the letter says.

Bondi also ordered the recension of MPD Chief Pamela Smith’s order issued Thursday morning that allows D.C. cops to help in limited ways with immigration enforcement; the order also clarified the instances in which MPD officers were barred from cooperating.

Bondi also ordered the suspension of two sections of the department’s general orders: one that prohibits officers from searching law enforcement databases solely to inquire about a person’s immigration status, and the other that prohibits officers from arresting someone for ICE warrants or detainers if there is not also a criminal warrant or suspicion of a crime. 

The letter represents a nightmare scenario for D.C.’s autonomy and Mayor Muriel Bowser, who has insisted since the federal takeover of MPD that Smith is still in charge of the department and her administration is working collaboratively with the feds.

Bowser was urgently working Thursday evening with D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb as she seeks a legal opinion saying that the mayor retains authority over the police chief, according to sources speaking anonymously to describe private conversations.