More than a dozen Washington, D.C., police officers were placed on leave this week as part of an internal investigation into alleged manipulation of crime statistics, officials confirmed Thursday.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said she was not surprised by the development when speaking to reporters. Pirro indicated that her office had been conducting an investigation into the matter since August, prior to the officers being placed on leave.

The investigation centers on allegations that crime statistics may have been improperly altered or misrepresented. The specific nature of the alleged manipulation and the timeline of the suspected activity have not been disclosed by authorities.

The Metropolitan Police Department has not released additional details about which officers were affected or what specific roles they held within the department. The investigation remains ongoing, and no charges have been filed at this time.

The development comes as police departments across the country face increased scrutiny over data collection and reporting practices. Accurate crime statistics are crucial for resource allocation, policy decisions, and public safety assessments.