Part 2/10:
At the forefront of the chaos is Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith, a figure whose career trajectory underscores the perils of politicized appointments. Smith, appointed as police chief after serving as the department’s chief equity officer, appeared ill-prepared for basic interview questions. When questioned about the chain of command—a fundamental aspect of police hierarchy—Smith seemed unsure whether she was in charge or how the command structure was organized. Her inability to clarify her role exemplifies the pitfalls of appointing DEI specialists to leadership roles without operational expertise.