Ramsey Ally Named Chief

Lanier Would Be First Woman to Permanently Head D.C. Police

Cathy L. Lanier, who rose quickly through the ranks of the D.C. police after starting as a rookie 16 years ago, was named yesterday by Mayor-elect Adrian M. Fenty to become the first permanent female chief of the 3,800-member force.

Lanier, 39, a native of Prince George's County, has spent her entire law enforcement career in the District and impressed Fenty (D) during her years as a beat officer and patrol commander.

But in many ways, she represents an unusual choice for Fenty, the D.C. Council's Ward 4 representative, who has been among the staunchest critics of the man she will replace, Charles H. Ramsey. Fenty has echoed the complaints of residents, particularly those in the city's poorer wards, that Ramsey has not put enough officers on the streets and focused too heavily on federal security issues.

Lanier has long been a favorite of Ramsey's, who gave her key patrol commands and later put her in charge of the bomb squad, SWAT team and other special units. In April, Ramsey named her head of the department's homeland security division -- another coveted assignment in the chief's inner circle.

Asked why he chose to remove Ramsey and replace him with a protégé, Fenty played down his differences with the chief and said Lanier will break from her mentor when necessary.

"It's indisputable that the police department has made objective improvement," Fenty said at a news conference with Lanier and Ramsey at his side. "But it's always appropriate to bring in someone who has a new set of eyes and brings new ways to attack the problems. Cathy Lanier will do that without losing the good initiatives of Chief Ramsey."

Ramsey's departure marked the first step in Fenty's public safety agenda. He has said he plans to replace Adrian H. Thompson, chief of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, whose agency has been criticized for lapses in emergency response.

Lanier, who will receive the same $175,000 salary as Ramsey, will take over a department whose reputation has generally improved from the late 1990s, when officers were criticized for using excessive force, botching investigations and abusing overtime.

But officers have complained about long hours under crime emergencies enacted by Ramsey, including an extended period this summer after a spike in violent crime. Lanier pledged to focus on improving morale in the department and improving ways to deploy officers.

"It's the perception and fear of crime and the way people feel on the streets," Lanier said. "It does not matter what the crime statistics are if people feel afraid."

Fenty had reportedly been interested in several former D.C. officers in charge of other cities' police departments. But yesterday he called Lanier his first and only choice. He said he did not consult Ramsey, the council or the police union before making his decision even though the council will vote on her nomination in January before she officially takes charge.

Ramsey attended the news conference as a show of solidarity, but rank-and-file officers were "stunned" at the news, said Officer Kristopher Baumann, chairman of the D.C. police labor union. The union, which has feuded with Ramsey, had hoped that Fenty would select someone with a more independent point of view, preferably from outside the department, Baumann added.