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Despite Murder Conviction, MPD Gave Officer His Job Back—and Back Pay

July 24, 2025

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) has reinstated two officers convicted in Karon Hylton-Brown's 2020 death, despite internal recommendations for termination and a federal jury's guilty verdict. According to a D.C. Auditor report, Police Chief Pamela Smith overruled her department's Disciplinary Review Division, giving Officer Terence Sutton just a 25-day suspension while Lieutenant Andrew Zabavsky paid a $2,500 fine and retired with full benefits. This decision followed President Trump's pardons of both officers in January 2025, though the auditor called the discipline "grossly inadequate" and criticized Smith for rejecting all 11 policy reforms proposed by investigators.

Who is affected

  • Karon Hylton-Brown's family and community
  • D.C. residents who rely on police accountability systems
  • MPD officers, particularly those in the Internal Affairs Bureau and Disciplinary Review Division
  • The broader D.C. community affected by police pursuit and use-of-force policies
  • MPD leadership, particularly Chief Pamela Smith
  • D.C. Council members overseeing police operations

What action is being taken

  • The D.C. Auditor is publicly criticizing MPD's decision and releasing a detailed report on the case
  • D.C. Council members are questioning Chief Smith's decisions during oversight hearings
  • The MPD is reinstating officers despite internal recommendations for termination
  • Chief Smith is defending her decisions based on advice from MPD lawyers rather than reviewing internal investigations
  • The D.C. Auditor is highlighting MPD's rejection of policy reforms proposed by investigators

Why it matters

  • The case represents a significant reversal of MPD's two-decade record of police reform and accountability
  • It establishes a precedent for how officers involved in fatal pursuits and alleged cover-ups may be disciplined
  • The decision undermines the work of MPD's own Internal Affairs Bureau and Disciplinary Review Division
  • It raises questions about the leadership and decision-making process within MPD
  • The case tests whether MPD will hold officers accountable for violations of policy that result in civilian deaths
  • It affects public trust in law enforcement and oversight mechanisms in D.C.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer

Despite Murder Conviction, MPD Gave Officer His Job Back—and Back Pay