(Washington, DC)  – The District of Columbia’s Police Complaints Board (PCB), the governing body of the Office of Police Complaints (OPC), today submitted a report to Mayor Muriel Bowser, the Council of the District of Columbia, and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Cathy L. Lanier recommending ways to ensure the accuracy of address information in arrest and bench warrants executed by MPD officers.

Within the last year, OPC received complaints from two District residents alleging that MPD officers attempted to execute a bench warrant for an individual who did not live at their home.  According to the residents, it was the second time that MPD officers attempted to execute a warrant based upon information that was not previously verified.

As a result of the complaints filed with OPC, the Board is concerned about the lack of verification of address information in warrants executed by MPD officers.  PCB believes that complaints such as the ones listed above, if not remedied, can greatly affect police-community relations.  

To that end, PCB recommends the following steps to help facilitate better relations between the police department and residents, and ensure the accuracy of address information in warrants executed by MPD officers:

• MPD, upon verifying that the wanted individual does not reside at the complainants’ address, make the appropriate notation on the PD Form 26 and remove the complainants’ information from its files;
• In general, before executing a warrant, MPD confirms that it has the most recent and accurate information regarding wanted individuals’ addresses; and
• MPD consider reviewing and revising General Order 702.1 and any related directives to bring them up to date and make them consistent with the recommendations listed in this report.

To view a copy of PCB’s full report on ensuring the accuracy of address information in warrants executed by MPD officers, visit www.policecomplaints.dc.gov.