The Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, generally simply referred to as the Chief of Police, is the head of the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C. The post is currently held by Peter Newsham who assumed in February 2017 after five months as interim police chief.
In 1861, the Metropolitan Police Board unanimously chose one of its members, William Benning Webb, to serve as the first chief of the Metropolitan Police, the formal title at the time being "Major and Superintendent".
In 1953 Congress passed the District Government Reorganization Act. It formally abolished the rank and title of Major and Superintendent and replaced it with the position of Chief of Police. Robert V. Murray would be the last Major and Superintendent and the first Chief of Police of the MPD.
The Metropolitan Police has a comprehensive list online of past and present police chiefs.
Peter Newsham February 2017 – present
Peter Newsham (interim) September 2016 – February 2017
Cathy L. Lanier January 2007 – September 2016
Charles H. Ramsey April 1998 – December 2006
Sonya Proctor (interim) November 1997 – April 1998
Larry Soulsby July 1995 – November 1997
Fred Thomas December 1992 – July 1995
Isaac Fulwood July 1989 – September 1992
Maurice T. Turner, Jr. July 1981 – July 1989
Burtell M. Jefferson January 1978 – June 1981
Maurice J. Cullinane December 1974 – January 1978
Jerry V. Wilson August 1969 – September 1974
John B. Layton December 1964 – July 1969
Robert V. Murray December 1951 – December 1964
Major and Superintendent
Robert V. Murray December 1951 – December 1964
Robert J. Barrett July 1947 – November 1951
Harvey G. Callahan February 1941 – June 1947
Edward J. Kelly November 1941 – February 1946
Ernest W. Brown October 1932 – November 1941
Pelham D. Glassford November 1931 – October 1932
Henry G. Pratt April 1929 – November 1931
Edwin B. Hess October 1925 – April 1929
Daniel Sullivan February 1922 – October 1925
Harry L. Gessford April 1920 – December 1921
Raymond W. Pullman April 1915 – February 1920
Richard H. Sylvester July 1898 – April 1915
William C. Moore December 1886 – July 1898
Samuel H. Walker July 1886 – December 1886
William McEntyre Dye April 1883 – June 1886
William G. Brock December 1879 – April 1883
Thomas P. Morgan February 1878 – November 1879
A. C. Richards December 1864 – January 1878
William Benning Webb September 1861 – November 1864
