This page is dedicated to the memory of Ray Eluhow jr, aka Zack.

I have never met Chief Contee before however I have spoken to a great deal of current and former members of the MPDC. I have received nothing but positive comments about him.

Then today I saw an interview he was giving to the press about recent shootings in the city.

To say the least I was impressed at how he spoke with the press as well as the content of his communication with them. Below is the story but if you get a chance look for the video.

Chief Contee Addresses the Press

DC Police Union survey says 71 percent polled considering leaving MPD over police reform legislation

By Bob BarnardPublished 13 hours agoNewsFOX 5 DC

WASHINGTON – A survey by the D.C. Police Union shows 71 percent of its polled members are considering leaving the Metropolitan Police Department over police reform legislation. The Union released the survey on Thursday saying that the D.C. Council’s reforms have presented “negative impacts to the working conditions of police officers.” The Union says 600 of its members responded to the poll.

“Many of our members have voiced that that Bill eliminates collective bargaining rights for employees, it makes it exceedingly more difficult to charge a suspect with assaulting a police officer, it changes body worn camera policy in such a way that is can no longer be used as an evidence collection tool, and it changes the language in use of force policy in the most utterly confusing way that even the Councilmembers could not figure out the intent or the impact of the language,” the Union’s statement read.

In addition to 71 percent of members polled saying they are considering leaving the MPD, the Union broke down other numbers they say show how members believe the bill would impact crime, officer safety, and discipline within the department.

The Union says 96 percent polled believe crime will increase, 88 percent polled believe officer safety will decrease, 93 percent polled believe discipline will increase and 98.7 percent of members polled agree with Chief Newsham’s statement that “The DC Council has abandoned the police.”

The Union also says that, of members polled, 25 percent say they may retire earlier than originally planned, 35 percent are seeking jobs at other law enforcement agencies and 39 percent are considering leaving law enforcement altogether.

“The language in the emergency legislation completely degrades the rights and working conditions afforded to police officers in this city,” said the Union’s statement. “This legislation will cause an exodus of our best police officers and make hiring and retaining qualified employees next to impossible.”

Earlier this month the D.C. Council voted unanimously in favor of emergency legislation on police reform. The 13 votes in favor came against a warning from the police union that the council members were making a mistake.

Highlights from the bill include releasing the names of officers and body-worn camera footage within 72 hours, giving the disciplinary process to the mayor, and prohibiting munitions during peaceful demonstrations. The legislation as passed is good for 90 days and makes many changes in the way policing is done in the District.

DC Police Chief warns officers, the city council has “completely abandoned” them.

By Staff Writer - June 14, 2020

Washington D.C. Police Chief Peter Newsham sent out a chilling notice to his officers via a private YouTube link this week, telling Metro Police officers that more reform is coming and will likely put them in harm’s way.

According to Fox 5 DC, Chief Newsham lambasted the city council saying they, “forgot about our 20 years of reform…. and insinuated that somehow the Metropolitan Police force would be involved in an act of murder like we saw in Minneapolis.

DC just passed a sweeping emergency police reform legislation just days after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The bill throws out the previous body-worn camera policy. It requires the department to publish all body-cam video and the corresponding officer’s name within 72 hours of a use of force incident.

The previous regulation left it to the Mayor’s discretion on whether or not a video should be released. It also had to meet certain criteria like public interest.

The bill also undercuts the union’ss ability to negotiate discipline and other collective bargaining measures.

Mendelson continued in his statement saying, “Washington D.C. is not Minneapolis, but the events that started in Minneapolis have affected police departments across the nation. There’s never anything wrong with the examining our practices, and I would not label that as abandoning our police.”

“Rather, we want to invigorate community trust in our police,” Mendelson said. “That’s beneficial to all.”

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MAY 30, 4:20 PM

Demonstrators, Police Clash For Second Night In D.C. Amid Protests Over George Floyd’s Death

dcist: This story was last updated on May 31 at 2:53 a.m.

Large-scale protests over the death of George Floyd erupted for a second day on Saturday in D.C., with clashes between law enforcement and protesters escalating dramatically as the sweltering night went on. Lafayette Park and other areas around the White House were the main flashpoint as the day’s peaceful protests turned chaotic, prompting the Park Police to mobilize the D.C. National Guard Saturday evening.

At least one car was set on fire. Some demonstrators smashed windows on the facade of the Ronald Reagan Foundation and Institute. Fireworks went off on multiple occasions. Police and Secret Service pushed protesters back as the crowd moved again and again toward Lafayette Park, repeatedly using chemical sprays. As the night turned into the early morning, stores in several neighborhoods were looted.

D.C. Fire and EMS said they transported seven people to the hospital, though a spokesperson could not immediately say how many were protesters or law enforcement. The D.C. Police Union said that at least one of its members was hospitalized after getting hit by a rock. Volunteers wearing red or white crosses on their clothes offered medical help, checking for concussions and washing people’s eyes after they were pepper sprayed.

The widespread protests came as the Washington region slowly emerged from stay-at-home orders amid the coronavirus pandemic. Saturday marked the second night of dramatic confrontation between demonstrators and law enforcement officials outside the White House. Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump falsely accused Mayor Muriel Bowser of refusing to allow D.C. police to help manage the previous night’s protests, and warned protesters of “ominous weapons” and “vicious dogs” on the other side of the White House fence.

The demonstrations began peacefully with a car caravan that traveled from 16th Street Heights to downtown in the early afternoon. Separately, hundreds of protesters marched from the U.S. Navy Memorial Plaza to the Capitol Building. “This is not violence, this is disruption of a prejudiced system,” a speaker shouted to the crowd gathered in front of the Capitol. Even after the official rally ended, hundreds of people continued marching down Pennsylvania Avenue, chanting “Say his name, George Floyd.” Another caravan organized by Black Lives Matter set out from Northeast later in the afternoon, with what appeared to be hundreds of cars. As the multi-generational caravan drove down Benning Road through the H Street corridor, Capitol Hill, and Southwest D.C., people on the streets raised their fists, clapped their hands and waved in support.

Meanwhile, clashes began near the White House, where law enforcement barricaded the entirety of Lafayette Square with black fences and yellow caution tape. As the demonstration intensified, Secret Service officers announced a final warning for protesters to disperse around 5:30 p.m. before releasing pepper spray. The demonstration continued to the corner in front of the Renwick Gallery, as protesters shouted, “Hands up, don’t shoot,” and began climbing on police cars.

Confrontations continued later in the evening between police and protesters at 16th and H streets NW, where police pushed demonstrators back from behind barricades. The D.C. National Guard were deployed to the area as the sun began to set, joining Secret Service, D.C. police and U.S. Park Police in the area surrounding the White House.

Early in the day, many protesters said they wanted the demonstrations to stay peaceful, but some also acknowledged the situation could get violent.
Nicole, a resident of Northwest D.C. who declined to provide a last name, said that “If [riot police] get violent with us, it’s okay for us to get violent with them. They already act like they’re a gang, banging on their shields like they’re getting ready to attack.” District resident Rudi Easler participated in the protest from the fringes.

“I’m afraid for these people, but at the same time, I’m more afraid of the level of power police have in order to hurt and to silence all these people out here who are just trying to protect themselves and protect their community,” she said. Getting close to the action is “not her personality,” but Easler said she fully supported those who chose to engage more directly at the front of the barricades.

One protester named Alexis said, “We’ve tried to make our point peacefully with sit-ins. We’ve been home quarantined for months as other people put their lives on the line. It’s our turn to get out.”

Her father, Joe, added, “I don’t support the violence. I think we have a few bad apples in the group trying to incite violence to make their point.”

Attorney General William Barr on Saturday blamed the sometimes-violent protests across the country on “anarchic and far-left extremist groups” who travel at some distance “to promote the violence.” But there was no evidence that the crowds in D.C. appeared to be from outside the region. Virtually all of the protesters who spoke with DCist and WAMU reporters identified themselves as locals. And while demonstrators had gathered as part of a national wave of protests over the police-involved deaths of black people around the country— George Floyd, in Minnesota, Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, Tony McDade in Florida and others — D.C. protesters also shared concerns about their region.

BETHESDA, Md. (ABC7) — An off-duty officer with the Metropolitan Police Department rescued a man from a burning pickup truck Wednesday night on the Interstate 270 Spur.

Around 11:15 p.m., the officer spotted the vehicle, a gray-colored 2019 Dodge RAM, in a wooded ditch off northbound I-270, right before the exit for Democracy Boulevard and the Westfield Montgomery Mall.

“I got a vehicle in the ditch. It’s completely disabled. Actually, it has severe damage. I’m actually about to check if there’s anyone inside the car,” the off-duty D.C. cop radioed Montgomery County’s 911 Center. “Actually, call the fire department! There’s fire coming out of the car! I don’t know if there is anyone inside the car! There has to be someone in there!”

While Montgomery County scrambled to route firefighters, paramedics, plus state and local police to the scene, the off-duty D.C. officer managed to pull a man in his mid-20s from the fiery vehicle.

“I’ve got one male severely injured. He’s out of the car,” the D.C. officer radioed a few minutes later, notably out of breath. “Also be advised, I’m providing first aid. He’s conscious and breathing. He’s got a broken leg, possible wrist. Difficulties of breathing.”

Paramedics transported the man to a local trauma center with what fire-rescue officials described to be “life-threatening injuries.” His current medical condition is unknown. No other vehicles were involved in the crash. However, due to the severity of the fire and large emergency response, authorities closed northbound I-270 for some time.

Montgomery County Police later determined the driver of the pickup was suicidal. In fact, the driver’s parents had called 911 minutes after the crash to report their son was missing and at risk of harming himself. By 11:50 p.m. — around 35 minutes after the off-duty D.C. cop first spotted the wrecked pickup — authorities put two and two together.

“Yeah, let Delta-22 know that their suicidal subject from Suburban [Hospital] is the subject involved in the [personal injury collision] out here on the Beltway,” an officer at the scene of the crash radioed to units who were with the driver’s frantic parents.

According to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Spokesman Pete Piringer, the off-duty D.C. officer has assisted motorists on I-270 before. The officer has not yet been identified.

“Apparently it’s not the first he’s stopped to help somebody on I-270 – thanks!” Piringer wrote on Twitter.

D.C. police have captured a suspect in multiple carjackings who allegedly shot at police officers in Southeast D.C. and barricaded himself inside a stranger’s home, forcing the residents, including children, to flee, police say.

Tywan Cummings, 40, of Southeast D.C., was shot and has been taken to a hospital for treatment, D.C. police said Tuesday. He was then arrested on numerous charges, including assault, carjacking, burglary, kidnapping and cruelty to children.

Information was not immediately released on whether any officers or bystanders were injured.

Cummings was believed to be involved in multiple armed carjackings in Maryland counties Sunday and early Monday, police said.
Police were chasing Cummings about 2 a.m. when he crashed into a car and an MPD vehicle near Pennsylvania and Alabama avenues SE. The suspect got out of a car and exchanged gunfire with police, Jeffery Carroll, Metropolitan Police Department assistant chief of police. Cummings was struck by officers’ returning fire, police said Tuesday.

Cummings then ran to a home in the 3900 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, which was occupied. Police believe there were children inside. The residents were able to escape safely, and Cummings barricaded himself in the home, according to police.

“He was just trying to get away from police,” Carroll said.

SWAT officers eventually entered the home and brought Cummings out without gunfire, Carroll said. One gun was recovered in the home and another was found in the car the suspect had been driving, police say. Cummings was expected to be charged in multiple districts, Carroll said. In D.C., he was charged with assault on a police officer, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, burglary, kidnapping, armed carjacking, first-degree cruelty to children and other crimes.

Pennsylvania Avenue SE was closed between Alabama and Southern avenues SE as multiple agencies coordinated, police say. Police later said the closure extends only from Fort Davis Place to Southern Avenue. Police cars from D.C., Prince George’s County, Montgomery County and Bowie were spotted at the scene by News4 crews.

Several officers were placed on administrative leave, per policy as police-involved shootings are reviewed. That includes D.C. and officers from each Maryland jurisdiction, according to D.C. police. A group of investigators was clustered around a sedan, News4 video from the scene shows. Overnight, D.C. police alone warned the public of five robberies or attempted robberies in all four quadrants of the city. It’s unclear if the suspect in the barricade situation is connected to any of those crimes.

Police didn’t provide details on the investigation until after the suspect was captured, saying it’s an “active investigation.” The investigation is taking place less than a mile from the D.C.-Maryland line. Drivers can take Massachusetts Avenue and Naylor Road as alternates.

Police are investigating whether the same suspect is responsible for two Molotov cocktails launched into D.C.’s Sixth District station grounds this month. At 6 p.m. Wednesday, Officer Robert Watlington called in that someone had just thrown a Molotov cocktail at him as he was getting into his unmarked cruiser in the parking lot on Hayes Street NE.
The Molotov cocktail hit the cruiser, and Watlington was not hurt. Watching a suspect attempt to flee, Watlington chased the man down 49th Street NE and arrested him.
Ashton Nesmith, 26, of Northeast, faces several charges, including assault with intent to kill and assault on a police officer. It’s the second similar incident in a month. D.C. police records show that on April 12 around noon, police called D.C. Fire and EMS to respond to what appeared to be a Molotov cocktail discovered burning in the parking lot. The fire damaged two police cars, according to the report. There weren’t any reported injuries.

The suspect approached an officer sitting in an unmarked vehicle, threw the explosive and fled.