President Donald Trump has appointed newly confirmed Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Terrance “Terry” Cole to also serve as interim commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) as part of an unprecedented federal takeover of law enforcement in the nation’s capital.
The move follows Trump’s August 11 order placing D.C.’s police operations under Justice Department control, with a mandate to “sharply and immediately reduce violent crime” in the city. The president, known for his impatience with underperformance, publicly warned Cole to deliver results quickly.
“Terry, if you’re not [one of the best], I gotta get rid of you so fast,” Trump said during the announcement.
Dual Roles and Federal Oversight
Cole, confirmed as DEA chief on July 23, now oversees both the 10,000-person federal drug enforcement agency and one of the largest municipal police forces in the U.S. The MPD has faced longstanding challenges, including staffing shortages and political tensions with city officials.
The takeover places Cole under the direct supervision of Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, with U.S. Marshal Gadyaces “Gady” Serralta tasked with operational command.
Political and Local Reactions
D.C. officials, including its city council and congressional delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, have expressed concern over the federal intervention. Meanwhile, the D.C. Police Union has voiced cautious support.
Union chairman Gregg Pemberton agreed with the president’s assessment that crime is “out of control,” but stressed the need for long-term reforms. He cited a 2020 D.C. Council law that he says discouraged proactive policing, contributing to a decline in MPD’s sworn officer count from 4,000 to 3,180.
“We need federal help, but if they leave and we haven’t fixed the laws that hurt recruitment and retention, we’ll be right back where we started,” Pemberton said.
Cole’s Background
Cole brings extensive law enforcement experience to the role. Before leading the DEA, he served as Virginia’s Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security from 2023 to 2025, overseeing 11 agencies with 19,000 employees and a $5.7 billion annual budget.
During his 22-year DEA career, Cole held posts in Oklahoma, New York, Washington, Colombia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East, eventually serving as acting regional director for Mexico, Canada, and Central America before retiring in 2020. He also began his career as a police officer in New York state.
Challenges Ahead
Cole inherits a police department with a proud tradition of Black leadership and a force navigating politically charged issues, including debates over “wokeness” in policing. Trump has urged him to be “tough” and remove officers “who shouldn’t be there.”
The appointment also comes as DOJ statistics show that violent crime in D.C. is at a 30-year low, raising questions about the necessity and scope of the federal intervention.
Cole’s immediate task will be to coordinate federal and local resources to meet Trump’s expectations, tackle staffing shortages, and implement crime reduction strategies without creating long-term instability once federal forces depart.
