Weekend Read: Lanier: “Every murder counts just as much as every other murder.”

MPD Chief Cathy Lanier spoke at the American Bar Association this week, addressing DC homicide investigations.

Reports the Associated Press:

Lanier spent most of the session explaining her management style and steps she has taken to reduce the homicide rate, including investing in technology, building sources in the community and expanding the department’s social media presence, since taking over as chief in 2007.

As chief, she told the group, she pushes back against the idea that information should not be shared across the organization, that homicides can’t be prevented and that some homicides are worse than others.

She recalled that at the first murder scene she went to as chief, the homicide commander briefed her and said, “’Chief, this is a public service murder. This guy’s a bad guy. He’s an armed robber.’

“Right off the bat,” she added, “I know that the attitude of the detective commander, the homicide detective commander, this is not the right guy to lead my homicide unit. Every murder counts just as much as every other murder.”

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