The Washington, D.C. police department has refused to provide information that would help criminology experts gauge whether the recent drop in homicides in the city is likely to continue.

The experts would like to know about detectives’ experience level and their caseloads, but the department said it could not give that information.

“Unfortunately, we do not provide specifics on staffing levels assigned to designated units,” MPD deputy communications director Kristen Metzgar said. “Our department has the hardest working homicide detectives who work around the clock to follow all leads and bring closure to victims and their families.”

Another report did say that staffing levels and caseloads were consistent between 2019 and 2021.

Nine homicide detectives resigned over that time period, a December 21 email said.

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