Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police
1970 to 1979
1970 – Sergeant Cecil Kirk and technician Walter Capps received the “Golden Eagle Award” for their film “Some to Demonstrate and Some to Destroy”. They later created “The Whole World is Watching,” a documentary about the 1971 MAY DAY demonstrations, which won a local Emmy.
Sister Eleanor Niedwick, aged 25, is a member of the U.S. Order “Daughters of Wisdom.” She has been serving as an armed police officer in Washington, D.C., for three weeks. Sister Niedwick excelled in her training, being recognized as one of the best female pistol shooters. Prior to this role, she was employed at the Vice Squad headquarters, where she gained significant insight into police work.
Currently, Sister Niedwick earns an annual salary of $8,000, part of which she dedicates to her religious order. She emphasizes that “the Church is everywhere, not only in schools and hospitals,” highlighting her commitment to public service through her unique position within the police force.
1977 – A change in the ammunition issued is made, when officers are provided with hollow point bullets for their issued .38 caliber revolvers.
The Metropolitan Police Department establishes a departmental shoulder patch.
These three pictures are from a TIME Magazine article about Gary Abrecht and Mary Ellen Abrecht. In 1972, Mary Abrecht, who was a sergeant in the patrol division, was featured in a profile on CBS’s “60 Minutes.” Mary Abrecht was instrumental in challenging the existing belief within the Metropolitan Police Department that women, typically assigned to desk duties, were not suited for uniformed street policing.
Abrecht assisted in managing and coordinating a pilot program involving one hundred female police officers in 1972, placing them in uniform and Scout Cars. She later served as a prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s office in Washington, D.C., and as a judge with the District of Columbia Superior Court. Her husband, Gary L. Abrecht, is a former deputy chief of the D.C. police and retired as the chief of the U.S. Capitol Police.
Mary Abrecht passed away on August 16, 2018, due to complications of metastatic breast cancer. She was 72 years old.
Officer Deborah Wolf wrote a book about her experiences as a police officer in the 1970’s and 1980’s.
1970
M.P.D. Officer Mary Foo prepared for a hostage situation outside a D.C. courthouse, shown here retrieving a tear gas launcher. Known as “Foo’s” to friends, she was part of the M.P.D.’s S.O.D. Tactical Unit. The standoff lasted around 36 hours.
MAY DAY PROTESTS 1971
Officer Joe Duff was a member of the Metropolitan Police Department from 1970-1995
THE FARMERS CAME TO WASHINGTON
Operation STING
Robert Redford made his movie The Sting in the 70’s. the M.P.D. had their own version.
In 1975, undercover operatives from the DC Police posed as members of the mafia to set up a fence and purchase stolen property. All transactions were videotaped using reel-to-reel video equipment. This operation was named “Operation Sting.” At the conclusion of the operation, they arrested 565 individuals, recovered $5.5 million in stolen property, closed over 1,800 criminal cases, and achieved a conviction rate of 99.7%. This record remains unbeaten. The team then traveled around the USA and Canada to teach federal agencies and police departments the techniques used in the operation. Today, sting operations are standard law enforcement activities.
Recently, Retired Lt. Bob Arscott released a YouTube mini documentary on Operation Sting. He details the origins of the operation and the day-to-day work that contributed to its success. Attention to detail, dedication, and determination were key factors in bringing many criminals to justice.
