The Metropolitan Police Department’s new Second District commander is not a stranger to the Foggy Bottom Campus.
Duncan Bedlion, a double GW alumnus, with a bachelor’s in political science and a master’s degree from the GW College of Professional Studies (CPS) in security and safety leadership in 2014 (now known as the Homeland Security Program), has been promoted to the Commander of the Metropolitan Police Department’s (MPD) Second District.
Bedlion, who has worked for MPD since 2006, is “very familiar” with the Second District, since he was a resident from 1999 to 2008, starting while he was a GW student, and still lives in D.C.
As a member of MPD, Bedlion works under Police Chief Peter Newsham, who tapped him for the position. He said that in his new role, he wants to continue the “legacy” of his predecessor, former Commander Melvin Gresham, with constitutional and unbiased policing. Bedlion was promoted to Commander of the Second District after recently retired Gresham who worked for MPD for more than 30 years.
“I have all the faith and confidence in his abilities to lead the Second District and mentor our future leaders,” Police Chief Newsham wrote. “He truly embodies our motto, ‘We are here to help.'”
“The Chief feels like Commander Bedlion has the full experience to serve as the 2D commander,” MPD spokeswoman Alaina Gertz said.