Diane Groomes (Photo: MPD.)

A Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson announced this evening that Assistant Chief Diane Groomes has been placed on administrative leave due to an investigation into accusations that she “compromised” a training test given to other officers. Police aren’t releasing details regarding the specifics of the allegations, but WTOP’s Mark Segraves reports via sources that Groomes was “helping a few commanders complete the written exam who had not completed the test on time.”

Assistant Chief Alfred Durham will take over Groomes’ day-to-day duties while the allegations are investigated.

The news has come as a surprise to many — Groomes, a twenty-year veteran of the force, is one of the most visible members in the department and has a fairly sterling reputation as one of the its most accessible commanders.