DC’s DEI police chief stumped by what ‘chain of command’ means

Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith was ridiculed over a mind-boggling remark about President Donald J. Trump’s federal takeover of Washington, D.C. law enforcement.

During a Tuesday press conference following Mayor Muriel Bowser’s meeting with Attorney General Pam Bondi, the District’s top cop was asked a basic question by a reporter that seemed to leave her flummoxed, inadvertently making the case for the federalization of her department.

“Can you tell us what the chain of command is now?” Smith was asked by the reporter, to which the baffled police chief responded, “What does that mean?”

NEW: Washington DC Police Chief Pamela A. Smith doesn’t know what the “chain of command” means.

Reporter: “Do you know what the chain of command is now?”

Smith: “What does that mean?”

Yikes. pic.twitter.com/HeJfqWxmnx

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 12, 2025

“Well, is it Pam Bondi speaking to the mayor? Is it you? How does this work?” The reporter followed up before Bowser jumped in to spare her chief from further embarrassing herself by explaining the chain of command.

“Our organizational chart, how we do business, how we fund the police, none of that has changed,” Mayor Bowser explained after taking over for her police chief.

But Smith’s cluelessness may be as simple as DEI.

The MPD’s website proudly touts the fact that she is the “first African-American female to serve as Chief in the agency’s then 230-year-old history.”

If you’re wondering why it took so long for D.C. to act:
D.C. Police Commissioner Pamela Smith and Mayor Bowser are senior level DEI Commissars. pic.twitter.com/tmbAL2zLjh

— Suzy Shofar (@suzylebo) May 8, 2024

“After a successful career in law enforcement with the US Park Police, Smith joined the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in May 2022 as the Chief Equity Officer, assigned to the Executive Office of the Chief of Police. She led the department’s efforts on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), made an immediate impact at the MPD, and ensured that DEI issues remained a priority in the department,” according to Chief Smith’s bio.

While it will never be admitted by anyone in the mainstream media, X users didn’t hesitate to state the obvious.

DC Police Chief Pamela Smith doesn’t even know what chain of command means. I’m not joking. She’s the perfect example of DEI failure.

Pamela was the CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER before later being promoted to Police Chief.

DEI promotes this kind of incompetence. pic.twitter.com/PaZ6Uck5SN

— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) August 12, 2025

Reporter: “Do you know what the chain of command is now?”

DC Police Chief Pamela Smith: “What does that mean?”

This is why DEI is a disease.pic.twitter.com/tHp95IuO5M

— CJ Pearson (@thecjpearson) August 12, 2025

She was the Chief Equity officer before.

Makes complete sense.

— Joshua Walker (@RedsRepair95) August 12, 2025

She seems to be checking off a lot of boxes.

Black, female, lesbian? Perfect person to lead the police force in a liberal paradise.

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 12, 2025

Wherever DEI goes, trouble and poor performance follow.

— Andrea E (@AAC0519) August 12, 2025

Chief Pamela A. Smith Is the epitome of everything that’s wrong with our current judicial structure. these DEI hires are tearing away at the fabric of our society. they should be embarrassed. They don’t even have the decency to learn the basics when it comes to doing their job

— Kelly Domination (@Domination2030) August 12, 2025

Real question -> are there any male police chiefs in any of our major cities anymore?

— Abby (@NoCRTinSchools) August 13, 2025

DEI – Devolving Every Institution

— sirtemplemount (@sirtemplemount) August 12, 2025

Chief Smith’s commitment to DEI could also at least partially explain why “youth” crime has raged out of control to the point where Trump felt that it was necessary to take charge.