DC Officers Accused of Destroying Patrol Cars in On-Duty Street Race

Four Washington, D.C. Metro police officer face suspensions of their law enforcement powers after the drivers of two marked patrol cars crashed while allegedly racing each other along a street in Northeast Washington, according to a department spokesman.

The four officers — two in each vehicle — were treated for injuries at hospitals. Police said the vehicles were totaled, according to Fox 5 TV

Dustin Sternbeck, a D.C. police spokesman, told the Washington Post the department’s Internal Affairs Division is investigating the crash, which occurred during the evening hours along Anacostia Avenue NE.

The officers, all from the 6th Police District and hired recently, were put on what is called noncontact status, meaning they are not allowed to have any interactions with the public during the course of the investigation.

Cmdr. Durriyyah Habeebullah, who heads the 6th Police District, sent an internal email to department officials saying the officers, “instead of fighting crime, patrolling their beats, or engaging the community — they decided to drag race each other on Anacostia Avenue at 5 p.m. in the evening.”