MPD Wants to Fire An Officer Accused Fleeing in a High-Speed Chase That Ended With Him Crashing Into a Civilian

On the night before Thanksgiving in 2023, Metropolitan Police Department Officer Peter McCauley was speeding and weaving through traffic in his Tesla on his way home from a double overtime shift. His then-girlfriend, also an MPD officer, was in the passenger seat, her eyes closed out of fear of his dangerous driving, according to testimony at a disciplinary hearing last week.

As he darted between cars, McCauley passed Virginia State Trooper Jermell Chatman, who attempted to stop him. But McCauley continued to drive and appeared to increase his speed after Chatman turned on his emergency lights and siren, the trooper testified during the adverse action hearing where McCauley is appealing the department’s attempts to fire him. As the Tesla faded from Chatman’s view, he says he accelerated t