New Commander for MPD’s 2nd District

Georgetown has a new top cop.

Duncan Bedlion was appointed commander of the Second District within the Metropolitan Police Department last week, succeeding Commander Melvin Gresham, an MPD officer for 34 years who retired after serving as head of the Second District since April of 2015.

Within Northwest Washington, the MPD’s Second District runs from the Potomac River to Western Avenue and includes the White House, the vice president’s house and many residential neighborhoods, including Georgetown.

Here are details from MPD on the new commander.

Previously, Bedlion served as the MPD Commander of the Youth and Family Services Division. He began his police career in 2005. In 2006, he was assigned to the Sixth District as an officer. In February 2010, he was promoted to sergeant where he was assigned to the Fifth District. In January 2014, he was promoted to Lieutenant where he managed PSA areas 102 and 103 addressing a variety of neighborhoods ranging from the vibrant downtown area of Chinatown to such landmarks as Union Station.

In 2015, Bedlion was given citywide responsibilities overseeing the growing Nightlife Units of MPD, working under the Executive Office of the Chief of Police and later the Homeland Security Bureau. In April 2016, he moved to the Criminal Investigations Division where he managed the Seventh District Detectives Unit. In April 2017, he became the unit commander of the Sexual Assault Unit.

In January 2018, he was promoted to captain and returned to the Fifth District where he led the Summer Crime Initiative Area in such neighborhoods as Rosedale and Langston Carver.

Bedlion moved to Washington, D.C., in 1999 and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from George Washington University.

tagsChinatownDuncan BedlionGeorgetownHomeland SecurityMelvin GreshamMetropolitan Police DepartmentPeter NewshamThe White HouseWestern Avenue