District of Columbia
Mayor nominates new D.C. police chief
Assistant Chief Pamela Smith is an ordained minister
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday announced she has nominated Assistant D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith to be the city’s next chief of police.
The police chief position became open in April when former Police Chief Robert J. Contee III, who had publicly committed to providing supportive police services for the LGBTQ community, announced he was resigning to take a position with the FBI.
Smith joined D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department in May 2022 after having served as Chief of Police for the United States Park Police in the nation’s capital. Background information on Smith released by the mayor’s office says she has more than 25 years of law enforcement experience, with most of that time with the Park Police.
In addition to serving in D.C. with the Park Police, she served in Park Police offices in New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco. Upon joining the D.C. police in 2022 Smith became the department’s first Chief Equity Officer assigned to the Office of the Chief of Police. She was promoted in April of this year to the position of Assistant Chief of Police for Homeland Security.
If her nomination is confirmed by the D.C. Council, Smith would make history by becoming the first African-American woman to serve as the permanent D.C. police chief since the D.C. police department was founded in 1861.
“We’re getting the full package with Chief Smith – experience, passion and a strong commitment to making D.C. safer,” Bowser said at a news conference where she announced her nomination of Smith to become police chief. “She also works with young people in her personal life as a minister and her path to public service, which she’ll share with you, is one that I know resonates with D.C.’s communities in all eight wards,” Bowser said.
The mayor was referring to Smith’s status as an ordained minister. The mayor’s office didn’t immediately disclose through which church or denomination Smith was ordained.
Her nomination must be confirmed by the D.C. Council. Political observers say they expect the Council to approve the nomination.
Among the questions that some in the LGBTQ community may be asking is whether Smith’s religious beliefs put her at odds with the LGBTQ community. A gay former D.C. police officer who knows people at the U.S. Park Police and who was familiar with Smith’s short tenure with D.C. police said they were unaware of any negative views or actions by Smith on LGBTQ related issues.
“They’ve always said good things about her,” the former officer, who asked not to be identified, said about the Park Police people who knew Smith. “And I’ve heard nothing but good things about this Chief Smith at the MPD,” the former officer said.
The Blade has requested an interview with Chief Smith to ask about her thoughts on how the D.C. police can best serve the city’s LGBTQ residents at a time when hate crimes targeting LGBTQ people in the city are at greater numbers than other minority groups targeted for hate crimes.
Another issue of interest to LGBTQ activists is a report that the number of officers assigned to the D.C. police community special liaison units, including the LGBTQ Liaison Unit, have declined in recent years. Some police insiders have expressed concern that those units may soon run out of officers and shut down due to attrition. One reason for this, police insiders have said, is the overall shortage of police officers and the need to assign the special liaison officers to other police units.
The Blade has submitted questions to Chief Smith through the mayor’s office that include this issue and other LGBTQ issues. Mayoral spokesperson Susana Castillo said a public information office official with the MPD would arrange for such an interview.
“I think Mayor Bowser has made a good choice for D.C.’s new police chief,” said local LGBTQ rights advocate Peter Rosenstein. “I look forward to Chief Smith meeting with the LGBTQ+ community and committing to supporting the LGBTQ liaison unit,” Rosenstein told the Blade. “I have worked with, and supported her predecessors at MPD, and look forward to supporting Chief Smith,” he said.
District of Columbia
Judge rescinds stay-away order in Capital Pride anti-stalking case
Evidence hearing to determine if order should be reinstated against Darren Pasha
A D.C. Superior Court judge on April 17 rescinded an anti-stalking order he approved in February at the request of Capital Pride Alliance against local LGBTQ activist Darren Pasha.
In a ruling at a court status hearing, Judge Robert D. Okum agreed with defendant Darren Pasha’s stated concern that the initial order was too broad and did not specify who specifically he must stay at least 100 feet away from, as called for in the order.
Okum ruled on April 17 that the initial order, which he noted was oral rather than written, would be suspended until an evidentiary hearing takes place in which Capital Pride will need to present evidence justifying the need for such an order.
“I’m fine with scheduling a hearing at which the plaintiff can present evidence, and the defendant can present evidence,” Okum said. “But I’m not fine with just continuing this oral TRO [Temporary Restraining Order] that Mr. Pasha really doesn’t even have notice of. That seems unfair,” he said.
After asking both Pasha and Capital Pride Alliance Attorney Nick Harrison when they would be available for the evidence hearing, Okum set the date for April 27 at 11 a.m. in Superior Court.
The case began when Capital Pride Alliance, the D.C.-based LGBTQ group that organizes the city’s annual Pride events, filed a Civil Complaint on Oct. 27, 2025, against Pasha, accusing him of engaging in a year-long effort to harass, intimidate, and stalk Capital Pride’s staff, board members, and volunteers.
The complaint was accompanied by a separate motion seeking a restraining order, preliminary injunction, and anti-stalking order prohibiting Pasha from “any further contact, harassment, intimidation, or interference with the Plaintiff, its staff, board members, volunteers, and affiliates.”
In his initial ruling in February, Okum issued an order requiring Pasha to stay at least 100 feet away from Capital Pride staff, board members, and volunteers until the April 17 status hearing. He reduced the stay-away distance from the 200 yards requested by Capital Pride.
Pasha, who has so far represented himself in court without an attorney, has argued in multiple court filings and motions that the Capital Pride stalking allegations are untrue. In his initial 16-page response to the complaint, Pasha said it appears to be a form of retaliation against him for a dispute he has had with Capital Pride and its former board president, Ashley Smith, who has since resigned from the board.
“It is evident that the document is replete with false, misleading, and unsubstantiated assertions,” Pasha’s court response states.
At the April 17 hearing, Okum also ruled that, as standard procedure for civil complaints such as this one, he has ordered both parties to enter into court-supervised mediation to attempt to reach a settlement rather than go to trial.
In an earlier ruling Okum denied Pasha’s request for a jury trial, stating that civil cases such as this must undergo a trial with the judge determining the verdict under existing civil court statutes.
The April 17 court hearing was held in a courtroom at the courthouse, but as allowed under current court rules, Capital Pride attorney Harrison and Capital Pride official June Crenshaw participated virtually through a video connection. Pasha attended the hearing in the courtroom.
“This matter is proceeding through the court in the normal course,” Capital Pride released in a statement. “We look forward to presenting the relevant evidence at the scheduled hearing. Capital Pride Alliance remains committed to maintaining a safe and respectful environment for our staff, volunteers, and community, and to addressing concerns through appropriate channels.”
“This is clearly a case of retaliation,” Pasha told the Blade after the hearing. “Today the judge removed the stay-away order and asked Capital Pride Alliance to present enough evidence and examples to see if a stay-away order should be granted,” he said. “Because Pride is coming up in June, we need to see where this is going.”
District of Columbia
Gay D.C. police lieutenant arrested on child porn charges
Matthew Mahl once served as head of LGBT Liaison Unit
D.C. police announced on April 14 that they have placed one of their lieutenants, Matthew Mahl, on administrative leave and revoked his police powers after receiving information that he was arrested in Maryland one day earlier.
Although the initial D.C. police announcement doesn’t disclose the reason for the arrest it refers to a statement by the Harford County, Md. Sheriff’s Office that discloses Mahl has been charged with sexual solicitation of a minor and child porn solicitation.
“On Tuesday, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office contacted MPD’s Internal Affairs Division shortly after arresting Lieutenant Matthew Mahl,” the D.C. police statement says.
“The allegations in this case are extremely disturbing, and in direct contrast to the values of the Metropolitan Police Department,” the statement continues. “MPD’s Internal Affairs Division will investigate violations of MPD policy once the criminal investigation concludes,” it says.
“MPD is not involved in the criminal investigation and was not aware of the investigation until yesterday,” the statement adds.
Mahl served as acting supervisor of the MPD’s then Gay & Lesbian Liaison Unit in 2013 when he held the rank of sergeant. D.C. police officials placed him on administrative leave and suspended his police powers that same year while investigating an undisclosed allegation.
A source familiar with the investigation said Mahl was cleared of any wrongdoing a short time later and resumed his police duties. Around the time he was promoted to lieutenant several years later Mahl took on the role as chairman of the D.C. Police Union, becoming the first known openly gay officer to hold that position.
NBC 4 reports that Mahl, 47, has served on the police force for 23 years and most recently was assigned to the department’s Special Operations Division.
Records related to Mahl’s arrest filed in Harford County District Court, show Sheriff’s Department investigators state in charging documents that he allegedly committed the offenses of Sexual Solicitation of a Minor and Child Porn Solicitation on Monday, April 13, one day before he was arrested on April 14.
The court records show he was held without bond during his first appearance in court on April 14. A decision on whether he would be released while awaiting trial or continue to be held without bond was scheduled to be determined during an April 15 bond hearing. The outcome of that hearing could not be immediately determined.
District of Columbia
D.C. bar, LGBTQ+ Community Center to mark Lesbian Visibility Week
‘Ahead of the Curve’ documentary screening, ‘Queeroke’ among events
2026 Lesbian Visibility Week North America will take place from April 20-26.
This year marks the third annual Lesbian Visibility Week, run by the Curve Foundation. A host of events take place from April 20-26.
This year’s theme is Health and Wellness. For the Curve Foundation, the term “lesbian” serves as an umbrella term for a host of identities, including lesbians, bisexual and transgender women, and anyone else connected to the lesbian community.
The week kicks off with a flag-raising ceremony on April 19. It will take place in New York, but will be livestreamed for the public.
“Queeroke” is one of the events being held around the country. It will take place at various participating bars on April 23.
As You Are, an LGBTQ bar in Capitol Hill, is one of eight locations across the U.S. participating. Their event is free and 21+.
On April 24, the D.C. LGBTQ+ Community Center will hold a screening of “Ahead of the Curve,” a documentary about the founder of Curve, Franco Stevens. The event is free with an RSVP.
April 25, is Queer Women in Sports Day. And on April 26, several monuments in New York will be illuminated.
Virtual events ranging from health to sports will be made available to the public. Details will be released closer to the start of Lesbian Visibility Week. Featured events can be found on the official website.
Some ways for individuals to get involved are to use #LVW26 and tag the official Lesbian Visibility Week account on social media posts. People are encouraged to display their lesbian flags, and businesses can hand out pins and decorate. They can also reach out to local lawmakers to encourage them to issue an official Lesbian Visibility Week.
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