D.C. Police Force Has 34 Arrests of Members This Year

One D.C. police officer helped himself to a woman's credit card while investigating a burglary at her home, another allegedly spit on a nightclub bouncer in a drunken rage and a third was caught soliciting sex within 10 blocks of police headquarters.

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They are among 34 members of the D.C. police department arrested this year on assault, fraud, drunken driving and other charges, the largest number in at least five years.

Although the percentage of officers arrested on the 3,800-member force is small, this year's total is 10 more than last year's. At least five cases involve on-duty conduct, but the majority stem from off-duty activities. Thirteen officers were arrested on domestic violence charges, 10 for drunken driving.

Police officials refused to provide many details, initially denying a request under the Freedom of Information Act. After The Washington Post appealed, officials agreed to provide a general breakdown of cases but refused to release names, saying they were concerned about the officers' privacy and noting that some cases could be dismissed.

Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier, who took office a year ago, said she relied on the advice of the city's attorneys in not releasing the officers' identities. The Post obtained more than a dozen names through court records and other law enforcement sources.

Lanier said she began noticing an increase in domestic violence and alcohol-related arrests at the end of last year. Some trouble could be related to job stress from overtime that officers were forced to work last year, she said. But she added that she has little tolerance for officers committing crimes.

"Once you've embarrassed the department or shown me you don't have integrity, I don't want you back," she said. In most cases, when officers are arrested, their badges and guns are taken away and they are put on desk duty until the charges are resolved. In cases involving drugs or sexual assault, officers typically are barred from the workplace. In traffic offense cases, including drunken driving, officers could be returned to the streets pending outcomes.

Four officers have been fired for criminal misconduct that includes child abuse, drug charges and leaving the scene of an accident.

The charges this year are a far cry from the scandals that followed a hiring blitz in 1989 and 1990, when the department cut corners on recruiting, background checks and training. About 200 officers were charged with crimes between then and 1996, including the so-called Dirty Dozen, a group caught in a federal drug sting. But this year's cases still represent a wide range of alleged misconduct. Two of those arrested this year were civilian employees; the rest were officers.

Donnay A. Davis, an officer assigned to the 5th Police District, pleaded guilty within two months of his arrest on charges of stealing the homeowner's credit card. Davis spotted the card while investigating a burglar alarm Aug. 27 at the Northeast Washington home.

Davis, 25, tried to activate the card and attempted three times to withdraw a total of $1,700 in cash. He got no money and was videotaped in one attempt. He pleaded guilty to attempted bank fraud and awaits sentencing next month.

Officer Talika Moore was arrested Nov. 10 in front of the Avenue nightclub in Northwest Washington after she spat on a bouncer who would not let her inside because she was drunk and stumbling, according to charging papers.