Washington (AP) – Attorney General Pam Bondy On Thursday, when Washington’s President Donald Trump made an unprecedented decision, he appointed Director of Drug Enforcement Terry Cole as Washington’s “Emergency Police Chief.” Take over the Washington Police Department.
Bondi said she gives Cole the power of police chief and the capital police station must receive approval for Cole before issuing the order. The capital’s attorney general responded quickly with a memo that Bondi’s actions were “illegal” and would set up a potential legal battle.
Cole’s mission takes place less than a month after the US Senate has adapted him to DEA leadership and he was sworn in as head of the agency.
Here’s what you need to know about Call:
30 years in law enforcement
According to a biographer on the DEA website, Cole was recently the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security in Virginia under Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
He spent more than 31 years as a law enforcement officer with 22 at the DEA. At the agency, he worked in Oklahoma, New York and Washington. He spent time abroad in Colombia, Afghanistan and the Middle East. The agency said he fought drug cartels and cross-border criminal organizations.
When he left the federal government in 2020, he was the proxy regional director of the DEA in Mexico, Canada and Central America.
Before joining DEA, he was a New York State police officer.
Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice
Cole graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He holds a certificate of business leadership at the University of Virginia and the University of Notre Dame University of Mendoza.
Late night announcement of new work
Bondi announced Cole’s new role in the order Thursday evening. Cole said he would assume “the powers and duties that the District of Columbia Police Chief has been granted.”
Police Chief Smith told Washington Police a few hours ago to share information with immigration agencies regarding people in custody.
However, the Justice Department said it opposed the police chief’s order as Bondi allowed continued enforcement of its “sanctuary policy.”
Bondi said she has withdrawn the order and other departmental policies restricting inquiries about the immigration situation and preventing arrests based solely on federal immigration warrants. The Attorney General said all new directives must be approved by Cole.
A memo from District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwarb was written for Smith and said local officers must comply with Bondy’s orders. It said the Trump administration does not have the right to “change the chain of command” within the police department, and that all orders must be routed through the mayor.
