Overhaul Set for District Police

Kristopher Baumann, chairman of the Fraternal Order of Police Labor Committee, did not return calls last night seeking comment on Lanier's reorganization.

The chief has left the seven police districts intact, although two will have new commanders. Apart from patrol officers, district commanders are the most visible department members in the community because they hold neighborhood meetings and have frequent interaction with individual residents.

The 1st District, which includes Capitol Hill and the area around Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, will be led by Cmdr. David Kamperin, who is coming from the special operations division. The 5th District, which includes the Brookland and Fort Lincoln neighborhoods, is also getting a new leader. Cmdr. Jennifer Greene is being replaced by Lamar Greene, who has been in charge of a 1st District substation.

Capt. C.V. Morris is moving from the violent crimes branch to the forensics bureau. Morris, known for wearing brightly colored suits as he briefed the public on homicide investigations, is being replaced by Inspector Rodney Parks of the internal affairs division.

Lanier is demoting two assistant chiefs, Willie Dandridge and Alton Bigelow, to commander-level positions. Another assistant chief, Brian Jordan, is no longer in that position, but it is unclear what his role will be. Shannon Cockett is retiring.

Of Lanier's six assistant chiefs, four are new appointees, and two, Robinson and Peter Newsham, have been assistant chiefs for years.

Two of the new assistant chiefs, Alfred Durham and Joshua Ederheimer, had left the force because they were unhappy under Ramsey. Durham, who helped run day-to-day operations for Richmond police, will play the same role for Lanier. Ederheimer, who was working for the Police Executive Research Forum, a national organization, will head the department's professional development bureau. Both have been working for the department since January and were part of Lanier's transition team.

Lanier said Durham would take over the department "if anything happened to me." But she also said that all of her assistant chiefs are at the same level.