Cathy Lanier

Cathy Lanier dedicated nearly 27 years to the Metropolitan Police Department, serving in various capacities and units throughout her career. Notably, she became the first woman to lead the Fourth District, one of the largest and most diverse patrol districts in the city. Lanier also held leadership positions within the Major Narcotics Branch and Vehicular Homicide Units, showcasing her expertise in handling complex cases and operational challenges.

After 9/11, Lanier was appointed Commander of the Special Operations Division (SOD), where she managed multiple specialized units such as the Emergency Response Team, Aviation and Harbor Units, Explosive Ordinance Division, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force. She was instrumental in creating the agency's Homeland Security/Counter-Terrorism Branch and developed the Special Threat Action Team, an innovative response unit for chemical, biological, and radiological threats.

In 2006, Lanier became the first Commanding Officer of the MPD’s Office of Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism (OHSCT), where she implemented counter-terrorism strategies across the department. She led the development of Operation TIPP (Terrorist Incident Prevention Program) and contributed significant research on preventing domestic terror attacks, further solidifying her expertise in national security and community policing. Lanier made history in 2007 when she became the first woman to serve as Chief of Police in the MPD. During her tenure, she introduced major reforms, including the implementation of body-worn cameras and data-driven policing strategies that contributed to a 23 percent reduction in violent crime and the lowest homicide rate in 50 years by 2012. Under her leadership, Washington D.C. transformed from the "murder capital of the nation" into a safer city with a more trusted police department. Her approach emphasized responsiveness, communications, and trust, focusing on community policing. Lanier oversaw five Presidential Inaugurations, including the largest in history in 2009, as well as two state funerals and two Papal visits. After retiring in 2016, Lanier became the Senior Vice President of Security for the National Football League, leveraging her extensive experience in managing large-scale events and national security.