The mayor of the District of Columbia on Thursday named a longtime veteran as the nation's capital's new chief of police.
Police Chief Peter J. Newsham, who has been serving as interim chief of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department after Cathy L. Lanier stepped down, will take over the agency with nearly 3,800 officers, according to The Washington Post.
The 27-year veteran of the force worked as an assistant chief for 14 years before taking the reigns.
During a news conference, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser praised Newsham's "commitment to transparency" and his "availability to his officers and members of the public."
Newsham said that under his leadership, the department would work to maintain a trusting relationship with the community and stand for "unbiased, fair and constitutional policing."
He promised to ensure that officers are properly trained in the use of force and that all residents are treated with respect.
"When you call us, we will always come, and when we come, we are coming to help," Newsham said.
