D.C. police commander LaShay Makal emailed a sergeant under her command in March 2024, asking her to scrutinize the “enormous amount” of thefts reported in their district in Southeast Washington.
The next day, the sergeant confirmed that yes, there were a lot of theft reports. But some, she said, could be recategorized as lesser offenses or as “lost property.” In one case, a person reported televisions missing from their apartment, but the sergeant noted the person hadn’t been there for two weeks and there were no signs of forced entry. “Sounds suspect to me,” she wrote, recommending the incident be reclassified. In all, the sergeant outlined two dozen other reports that could also be changed.
