MPDC-US Department of Justice Memorandum of Agreement on Use of Force

In June 2001, the Metropolitan Police Department signed a historic Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the US Department of Justice on use of force. This followed Chief Charles H. Ramsey’s request that the Justice Department take a comprehensive look at use-of-force issues within the MPDC. The MOA contains a number of reforms the MPDC has agreed to implement in areas such as use-of-force policies and procedures, training, investigations, canine use, and public education and outreach. In many cases, the MOA codifies reforms that the MPDC had begun implementing over the last few years. In April 2002, Michael Bromwich was selected to be the independent monitor overseeing the MPDC’s implementation of the MOA.

This section explains the MOA and provides updates on the MPDC’s implementation efforts.

• Memorandum of Agreement (US Department of Justice)
• Memorandum of Agreement Summary (US Department of Justice)
• MPDC Progress Reports
• Office of the Independent Monitor website

Citizen Complaints

• How to File a Citizen Complaint
• The OPC Complaint Investigation Process
• The MPDC Complaint Investigation Process
• Office of Police Complaints

Use of Force Issues

• Civil Rights and Force Investigations Division
• MPDC-US Department of Justice Memorandum of Agreement on Use of Force