Peter Hermann

Washington, D.C.

Reporter covering crime, specifically the D.C. police department

Education: Marquette University, BA in journalism, communications

Peter Hermann has covered D.C. police and fire since the summer of 2012 for The Washington Post. He previously worked for the Baltimore Sun for 22 years, covering a Baltimore suburb and then the Baltimore Police Department. He wrote about crime as a columnist and served as an editor overseeing crime coverage. He also served as the Sun's Jerusalem bureau chief, covering the Middle East, including Israel, Egypt and Lebanon. He went to Iraq twice to cover the war. He now covers daily cops and crime, at times returning to Baltimore to report on crime and law enforcement.
Latest from Peter Hermann

Person fatally struck by commuter train in Northeast Washington

Person fatally struck by commuter train in Northeast Washington.

May 16, 2024
D. C. firefighters respond after a person was fatally struck by a MARC commuter train in Northeast Washington on Wednesday.

81-year-old fatally beaten with sledgehammer by angry colleague, police say

Charles Gilbert Short Sr. was brutally attacked by a co-worker with a shovel and a sledgehammer in D.C., police say.

May 10, 2024
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Maryland ruled Charles Gilbert Short Sr.'s death a homicide.

Six GWU students among 33 arrested at campus protest encampment

Six George Washington University students were among the 33 demonstrators arrested early Wednesday at a campus protest encampment.

May 9, 2024
George Washington University's University Yard, where a pro-Palestinian encampment had been set up, is barricaded with a security fence. (Jordan Tovin for The Washington Post)

33 arrested as D.C. police clear George Washington University encampment

Police moved on the encampment hours before the D.C. mayor and police chief were set to testify on Capitol Hill about it. The hearing has since been canceled.

May 8, 2024

Stumped by 3-year-old’s killing, D.C. police hold prayer walk, increase reward

D.C.’s police chief, clergy members and others march in honor of 3-year-Ty’ah Settles, killed by a stray bullet last week in a homicide that remains unsolved.

May 8, 2024
D.C. Police Chief Pamela A. Smith (second from right) marches with clergy and others on Tuesday to the spot where 3-year-old Ty’ah Settles was fatally shot on May 3, in the 2400 block of Hartford Street SE.

A 3-year-old is shot to death, and D.C. reels again: ‘Everyone loved her’

Ty’ah Settles, 3, was riding in a car that got caught in the crossfire of a gun battle, police said. She was the city’s youngest homicide victim this year.

May 4, 2024
Ty’ah Settles, 3, was shot and killed Friday in the 2300 block of Hartford Street SE.

Dunbar student grazed by stray bullet fired into D.C. school

The female student was conscious, police said, and they described the injury as minor.

May 4, 2024
D.C. Police Chief Pamela A. Smith addresses the news media on Friday after a bullet fired outside Dunbar High School went through a window and grazed a female student.

Lawmakers question D.C. police for not moving on GW protesters

Two members of Congress threatened legislative action after D.C. police decline to break up a pro-Palenstinian encampment at George Washington University.

April 30, 2024
Campus police watch protesters at an encampment at George Washington University on April 26. (Jordan Tovin for The Washington Post)

Man fatally shot at bar on U Street nightlife corridor

The incident occurred about 1:10 a.m. Police have not yet been able to identify the victim and no arrest has been made.

April 27, 2024
Cordon tape seals off an active crime scene.

D.C. police rejected GWU’s plea to sweep out university protesters

City officials worried about the optics of moving against a small number of peaceful protesters, people familiar with the talks said.

April 27, 2024
Protesters at George Washington University dance on H Street, extending the encampment off campus Friday night.