Longtime DC police leader, Peter Newsham, to serve as interim chief
WASHINGTON - Assistant Police Chief Peter Newsham has been named the interim chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Tuesday morning.
"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."
According to Newsham's bio on the MPD website, Newsham has been with MPD since 1989. In 2008, Newsham was named the assistant chief of the Investigative Services Bureau.
Newsham has a bachelor's degree from the College of the Holy Cross and a law degree from the University of Maryland's School of Law.
Lanier has accepted a position with the National Football League as the Senior Vice President of Security Operations. She served as the Metropolitan Police Department's chief for the last 10 years. Her retirement will be effective next month.