Chief of Police Charles H. Ramsey announced today the promotion of Willie Dandridge to commander of the Metropolitan Police Department's Sixth District , which includes neighborhoods in Northeast and Southeast D.C.

Dandridge, 37, a 15-year veteran of the MPD, had served as acting commander of the Sixth District since early February, when Ramsey promoted former 6D Commander Rodney Monroe to the position of assistant chief in charge of the Department's youth violence reduction efforts.

"Three months ago, I asked Willie Dandridge to step in and fill some very large shoes when he became acting commander of the Sixth District," Ramsey said. "He responded to this challenge with energy, enthusiasm and results. He has clearly earned this promotion. I am confident that under Commander Dandridge's leadership, the Sixth District will continue to build stronger police-community partnerships and will continue to experience significant reductions in crime, as it has over the last two years," the Chief added.

Since joining the MPD in September 1985, Dandridge has served in a number of assignments involving patrol duties and criminal investigations. Promoted to sergeant in 1992, he served as a midnight sector sergeant and tactical unit supervisor in the Seventh District. As a lieutenant, he managed enhanced enforcement and community policing activities in the Third District, and was commanding officer of the Homicide/AWIK (assault with intent to kill) unit from September 1997 to April 1999.

When Chief Ramsey reassigned most detectives from centralized units to the seven police districts in 1999, Dandridge was placed in charge of the Violent Crimes Unit in the Seventh District, which achieved the highest closure rate for homicides, AWIKs and sex offenses that year. Upon being promoted to captain in January 2000, he was assigned to the Sixth District.

Dandridge holds an associate's degree from Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas, and has completed additional course work at Lubbock Christian College in Lubbock, Texas.