police

“Dear PoPville,

I’m feeling nosey about a strange, large police presence I saw while walking in Kalorama around 6p (Monday.) Huge police checkpoint set up in front of the Chinese Embassy residence (end of the Taft Bridge on Connecticut Ave, NW). Probably 6-8 cop cars, a dozen police, and a handful of cars stopped in the checkpoint. Haven’t seen anything on social media or news about it at all so no idea what happened!”

Another reader adds: “6 cruisers and multiple officers stopping cars at the south end of the Taft bridge in front of the Chinese embassy. Pulling cars over.”

MPD shared the police report with me:

“Officers were conducting a Traffic Safety Checkpoint in the 2300 block of Connecticut Ave NW and observed the driver of a Honda SUV not wearing a seat belt. A traffic stop was conducted at the location and WALES/NCIC confirmed S1 does not possess a valid drivers license to operate a motor vehicle on public space. S1 was placed under arrest and transported to the Second District Station for processing.”

And regarding the Wilson Pool and even odder reader report: (more…)

Update: “MPD reports the police activity has cleared from the 200 block of Constitution Avenue NW and the related road closures are now open.”

Thanks to G. for sending. AlertDC reports: (more…)

Martha writes: “Hey PoPville, Does anyone know what’s going on over by the State Department? 23rd St. has been closed down for the last hour – and that’s an important artery, coming into the city.”

I believe this is a convening of Trump’s “Board of Peace meeting.

Yesterday MPD issued the following traffic advisory:

“On Thursday, February 19, 2026, a special event will be hosted at the United States Institute of Peace in the District of Columbia. In conjunction with this event, there will be parking restrictions and street closures that motorists should take into consideration:

On Thursday, February 19, 2026, beginning at 12:01 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., the following street will be posted as Emergency No Parking: (more…)

via MPD

Statement from Mayor Bowser on Chief Smith

“Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela A. Smith will be stepping down and released the following statement:

“When Chief Smith stepped up to lead the Metropolitan Police Department, we had no time to waste. She came in at a very challenging time for our community, when there was significant urgency to reverse the crime trends our city was facing post pandemic. Within a year of her tenure, we opened the Real-Time Crime Center. We deployed newer and better technology. We worked with the Council to pass comprehensive legislation that prioritizes accountability. And Chief Smith got all of this done while also navigating unprecedented challenges and attacks on our city’s autonomy.

“Chief Smith dramatically drove down violent crime, drove down the homicide rate to its lowest levels in eight years, and helped us restore a sense of safety and accountability in our neighborhoods. We are grateful for her service to Washington, DC.”

Statement from Chief Pamela A. Smith (more…)