DCist reader Aaron W. sends in the following account along with the above photo:

Seen on Saturday in Dupont Circle: A cop, in his SUV, entering Dupont Circle, LOUDLY talking on his cell phone as 10-15 people on both sides of the street watch/listen as he speaks with his wife. As long as this city continues to enforce the hands-free law, shouldn’t those who are trusted to enforce it also abide by the same laws?

As a matter of fact, Aaron, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier agrees with you. It was only last September that she took the time to go on WTOP radio and spell out her revised policy on cell phone use by her officers when they’re driving. At the time, Lanier said police would be exempt from the hands-free driving law in cases of emergencies, but otherwise, they had to comply, just like everyone else. No exceptions. Talking to one’s wife would, presumably, not count as an emergency.

Now, what Aaron saw on Saturday is by no means a rare occurrence. Lanier herself admitted last fall that she’s having a hard time getting her officers to comply with the hands-free law, and told WTOP that stories like Aaron’s are actually one of the most common complaints she gets about officers from the public.

We’ve forwarded the image and Aaron’s account to the MPD’s public information office, and we’ll let you know what they say when we hear back.

UPDATE 12:31 p.m. MPD spokesperson Gwendolyn Crump emails: “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We will investigate and take appropriate action.”