Attorney General Pam Bondi Names DEA Head as "Emergency Police Commissioner" in Washington

Strategic Insights -

Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Terry Cole, as Washington's "emergency police commissioner," citing President Donald Trump's decision to take over the city's police department. This move comes after the US Senate confirmed Cole as the DEA's leader, and he was sworn in as head of the agency. As part of his new role, Cole will have the power to approve all orders issued by the Metropolitan Police Department. This appointment has raised concerns about the impact on the city's current police chief, Pamela Smith, and the enforcement of "sanctuary policies."

Key Takeaways:

  • Terry Cole, the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, has been appointed as the "emergency police commissioner" of Washington by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
  • Cole will have the power to approve all orders issued by the Metropolitan Police Department, effectively taking control over the city's police department.
  • The move comes after President Donald Trump's decision to take over the city's police department, with Bondi stating that she is rescinding certain department policies limiting inquiries into immigration status.
  • The appointment of Cole as emergency police commissioner raises concerns about the impact on the city's current police chief, Pamela Smith.
  • Cole has over 31 years of experience in law enforcement, including 22 years at the DEA, and has served in various roles, including as the agency's acting regional director for Mexico, Canada, and Central America.
  • Cole holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has certificates in leadership from the University of Virginia and the University of Notre Dame Mendoza School of Business.

Statistics:

  • 31 years: The amount of time Terry Cole has spent in law enforcement.
  • 22 years: The amount of time Cole has spent working at the DEA.
  • 3 decades: Terry Cole's total time in law enforcement, including stints as a police officer in New York State and as the DEA's acting regional director for Mexico, Canada, and Central America.
  • 2020: The year Cole retired from the federal government.

Sources:

  • AP news wire
  • DEA's website for Terry Cole's biography