DC police captain email on arrests sparks backlash

A Washington, D.C. police internal email has sparked criticism after a captain appeared to accuse officers of avoiding arrests even when probable cause or reasonable suspicion was present. According to the department, the email was later rescinded and the matter is under investigation. The discussion comes as federal officials continue efforts to address crime in the city, where violent crime remains a concern despite recent declines from a 2023 peak. The captain wrote that body camera footage suggested some officers were not making arrests when they could have, leaving complaints for internal review and victims without protection. A former Supreme Court chief of police and the city’s police union both said arrests based only on reasonable suspicion would be illegal, while the department said the email’s claims were incorrect.