Washington, DC

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Bowser announces that a longtime deputy to Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy Lanier, Peter Newsham, will fill the position she is vacating on an interim basis effective September 17, 2016. Mr. Newsham joined MPD in 1989 and has served as Assistant Chief of Police since 2002.

“Like Chief Lanier, Peter has deep roots serving the District and believes in the power of building relationships with communities as the best way to deter and solve crime,” said Mayor Bowser. “He has served the people of the District of Columbia for almost three decades and in that time has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to the District and to its residents. He is experienced, smart, compassionate, and most importantly, he knows what it means to walk a beat, to manage a team, and to serve the residents of the District of Columbia. I have known him for more than a decade; he is a police officer of the highest caliber and is extremely qualified to serve as the Interim Chief of Police while we conduct the search for a permanent replacement.”

Newsham has served as Assistant Chief at MPD for 14 years and currently heads the Investigative Services Bureau, which is responsible for investigating violent, property, sexual assault, and narcotic crimes. He previously oversaw MPD’s internal affairs and disciplinary review offices for four years. He also oversaw the northern regional command for three years, which included the Second, Third, and Fourth police districts. Newsham has a law degree from the University of Maryland School of Law and is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and Maryland.

A search for internal and external candidates to fill the position permanently has already begun and a job announcement will be published in the coming days. After winnowing the list of qualified candidates, a small group of community stakeholders will be involved in vetting final candidates.

Chief Cathy Lanier announced her retirement last week. A news release can be found here.