The DC police department is firing 21 senior officials at the end of this month, including a dozen with past disciplinary infractions, reports NBC Washington. All the officers were retired and then rehired, but police officials did not disclose why officers who had committed misconduct were rehired. The terminations come at the heels of a new law passed by the D.C. Council in 2022 that changed requirements for hiring.
The terminations come as D.C. is struggling with police staffing amid concerns over violent crime. The police union put out a statement criticizing the legislation that led to these firings and said some of the disciplinary matters occurred more than 20 years ago. Union officials also stated that they hope the D.C. Council will "reevaluate the anti-police positions they took in 2020 and prioritize a balanced approach."