Fifth District Commander Shawn Rooney
Shawn Rooney has served as commander of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Fifth District, which comprises portions of the Northeast quadrant of the city, since September 2024, when he was promoted to the position by Chief of Police Pamela A. Smith.
Commander Rooney began his MPD career in 2008, when he was assigned to Patrol Services in the First District. Since then, he has played a key role in high-priority operations and activities. These have included serving in an initiative to stem violent crime in the city’s Chinatown neighborhood and, following promotion to sergeant, oversight of MPD’s Nightlife Unit. Both assignments entailed intelligence collection and proactive tactics that were instrumental in reducing robberies, assaults, and property-related crimes.
Following promotions to lieutenant and detective lieutenant, Rooney oversaw criminal investigations and was detailed on a rotating basis as the Criminal Investigation Division’s Citywide Watch Commander. In the Investigative Services Bureau, he managed the Violent Crime Impact Team, an interagency team of MPD detectives and supervisors and agents of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
In 2022, promoted to captain and assigned to the Violent Crime Suppression Division, Rooney oversaw allocation of assets aimed at reducing firearms violence; disrupting major drug, narcotics, prostitution, and human trafficking; and rapidly forming specialized units to threats to the community as they arose.
Commander Rooney has earned numerous commendations and has been honored as MPD Police Officer of the Year, Sergeant of the Year, and Captain of the Year. He holds an associate degree in business with underlying focuses in government and economics, and certifications in securities laws. Rooney is proficient in Spanish and semi-proficient in American Sign Language.