Last week, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors appointed Peter Newsham the new chief of police in a controversial move. 

The announcement that Newsham would be leaving the city of D.C. brought a state of celebration and excitement to our nation’s capital, but for the residents of Prince William, the announcement sparked outrage.

How could a police chief’s retirement bring such anticipation to a city? Well, Newsham’s record could be described as questionable. It could be, but that would be an understatement. Newsham has often made headlines for subpar police work and because of crimes he allegedly committed in public and private. Whether it was the mass unconstitutional arrest of 400 people or alcoholism and domestic abuse, Newsham has been accused of it. 

What does this mean for Prince William County? Like Washington, D.C., Prince William County is a majority-minority locality. Newsham’s handling of protests and other instances have often faced extreme scrutiny by residents of D.C. and Northern Virginia alike, and tensions between the public and the police in Prince William have recently risen. 

But those are not the only concerns residents in Prince William have expressed.

Conservatives and liberals alike have spoken out, demanding to know why the BOCS hired someone whose career is clearly moving in the wrong direction. Transitioning from the chief of police in the nation’s capital to the chief of police for a much smaller locality an hour away is not exactly an upward or even lateral career move. For reference, the previous two chiefs of the Metropolitan Police Department left the position for roles that are arguably much higher ranking. Cathy Lanier, Newsham’s predecessor, left MPD to become Vice President of Security for the NFL, and Lanier’s predecessor, Charles H. Ramsey, was hired as a police commissioner in Philadelphia, a city over twice the size of D.C.

Lanier and Ramsey were well respected within their field. When they retired, it was not because they were at odds with the city and the City Council refused to renew their contracts; it was because they had both served the city for nearly a decade and felt that it was their time to move on.

As great as Prince William County is, Newsham’s move to a locality half the size of the one he worked in previously should raise concerns for any reasonable person.

Local activists called for the BOCS to take time and consideration while appointing a new chief to ensure that they would hire someone who understands community policing, race relations, and how to best bridge the gap between the public and the county’s police force. Instead, they hired Newsham whose record on race relations is abhorrent and who has exacerbated the divide between the public and police in D.C.

Not only did the BOCS turn their back on the communities that they claim to represent, they recklessly hired someone whose contract in D.C. lapsed months ago without renewal. There’s a reason the D.C. City Council didn’t give Newsham another term as police chief. 

The entire board voted for Newsham with one exception: Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin. Why were no other members of the board in touch enough with the localities around Prince William to know about Newsham’s record? D.C. is only half an hour away from the county they represent. They should be in contact with D.C.’s City Council, especially if they are interviewing the city’s chief of police for a job.

There are a lot of questions to be asked. Did any of our supervisors speak with Newsham directly? Did any of them speak with anyone who works for Newsham in MPD? Did any of them speak with a D.C. Councilmember or even a resident of the city? Did any of our supervisors or their staff even take the time to Google Newsham’s name before they voted to hire him to lead our community’s police department? Or did our elected officials simply neglect the duties of their offices simply because it was easier than doing their jobs?

Trying to impact this decision now may seem like a hopeless cause, but local activists are not giving up.

Residents are lining up to speak at today’s BOCS meeting, and while it may be too late to voice your concerns today, it seems likely that they will continue to speak on the issue at future meetings. If you’re outraged, you should be demanding more from your elected officials. And if you’re not outraged, then you’re not paying attention.
If you are interested in getting more involved with this issue, you can contact PWC Mutual Aid through their website or through Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.