Cathy Lanier, the chief of the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, talked about the department’s growth in the twenty-three years she has been a police officer. She talked about the homicide rate in Washington, D.C., dropping to its lowest in fifty-one years, the reasons for this decline, and the future growth of the D.C. metro area. Chief Lanier recounted stories of growing up in the area and dropping out of school at age 15. She joined the police force as a single mother with a ninth grade education. She talked about her career, completing her education with two master’s degrees, and becoming the youngest chief in the history of the department. Other topics included, counter-terrorism, gun control, community policing, some of the criticisms of her administration over the years, and relations with the press. Chief Lanier reacted to videos including former Mayor Berry, a commencement address she delivered, an incident recorded on social media, and a press report.