America’s Most Dangerous Cities Are Being Run Into the Ground by DEI-Installed Female Police Chiefs

Appointments based on optics—not qualifications—have weakened police leadership in America’s most dangerous cities, with tragic consequences for public safety

Across the country, some of the nation’s most crime-ridden cities are being run by police chiefs whose résumés scream “diversity hire” rather than seasoned law enforcement professional. These women, vaulted into top positions under Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion mandates, preside over departments collapsing under record-breaking crime rates — and their public blunders show exactly why.

Pamela A. Smith – Washington, D.C.

In 2023, Pamela A. Smith became the first African American woman to lead the Metropolitan Police Department. Before that, she was the department’s Chief Equity Officer, a DEI desk job that raised eyebrows among officers who value actual police work over social initiatives. Smith’s critics point out that her rise had everything to do with checking demographic boxes and nothing to do with competence.

That criticism was cemented when she openly admitted during a briefing that she doesn’t know what “chain of command” means — a fundamental concept in policing.

Meanwhile, D.C. remains one of the most dangerous places in the country. Per CDC data, it has the highest per capita murder rate in the United States, with almost 1,600 violent crimes and 16,000 total crimes already reported in 2025. Just this week, a man was gunned down near the sites of two other notorious shootings — incidents so bad that President Trump previously ordered a federal takeover of the city’s police department.

Anne Kirkpatrick – New Orleans, Louisiana

Anne Kirkpatrick stepped in as New Orleans’ first female superintendent in 2023, with a résumé padded by teaching FBI courses on “bias and diversity.” Her appointment fits perfectly with the city’s DEI leadership agenda — and the results speak for themselves.

New Orleans now has a violent crime rate of 1,361 per 100,000 residents — 148% above the state average. By mid-2025, the city had recorded 80 murders. Under Kirkpatrick’s watch, the infamous New Year’s Day truck attack on Bourbon Street left 14 dead and at least 57 injured. The attack, labeled an act of terrorism, revealed glaring security failures, including Kirkpatrick’s own ignorance about the importance of proper road barrier placement in high-traffic areas.

Teresa A. Theetge – Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincinnati promoted Teresa Theetge to chief in 2023, marking yet another “first woman” milestone. Her leadership has been overshadowed by a lawsuit from white male officers alleging anti-white discrimination and race-based promotion quotas — with Theetge personally accused of giving preference to minorities and women.

Cincinnati’s crime rate now exceeds 4,000 incidents per 100,000 residents, well above the national average. Robberies have spiked nearly 46% in certain districts, and downtown has seen a 31% surge in incidents this year alone. One particularly chaotic downtown mob attack saw a man knocked unconscious and beaten while lying on the pavement. Theetge’s response? She downplayed the brutality, suggesting the attackers weren’t solely to blame and that the “whole story” hadn’t been told.

Cerelyn “C.J.” Davis – Memphis, Tennessee

Cerelyn Davis took over Memphis PD in 2021 as the first Black female chief and clung to her position despite outrage over the Tyre Nichols beating. She was reinstated in January 2025 amid mounting criticism of her leadership.

Memphis remains one of America’s most dangerous cities, contributing to Tennessee’s fourth-highest violent crime rate in the nation at 672.70 per 100,000 people. By late May, Memphis had already logged 97 murders — a staggering 15.8 homicides per 100,000 residents. April 2025 became one of the deadliest months for local youth, with 14 children and teenagers shot in a wave of park, festival, and school shootings.

From Washington to Memphis, these chiefs embody a troubling reality: when leadership roles are handed out based on gender and race quotas rather than proven skill, public safety suffers. The numbers are not just statistics — they are a grim testament to what happens when political optics are valued over competence in law enforcement’s most critical positions.

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About The Author

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Dominick Izzo is a former police officer turned outspoken advocate for transparency and accountability in law enforcement. With years of on-the-street experience, he brings an unfiltered perspective to the complexities of policing that few are willing to discuss. As the host of Cop Talk LIVE, Izzo breaks down real-life police use-of-force incidents, offering professional insight into the split-second decisions officers face and the challenges behind the badge. His no-nonsense approach to hard-hitting topics sparks critical conversations about the realities of modern policing, making him a bold and respected voice in the dialogue surrounding law enforcement today.

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