Ex-D.C. police chief looks to build trust in Va. Justin Jouvenal and Antonio Olivo, The Washington Post Jan. 30, 2021 FacebookTwitterEmail Former Washington D.C. police chief Peter Newsham will start as chief of the police department in Prince William County, Va., on Monday.Washington Post photo by Marvin Joseph. Peter Newsham, the former Washington D.C. police chief who stunned city officials when he announced his departure in November, said he plans to increase the diversity of the police force in Prince William County, Va., and push officers to engage more with the community when he takes over as chief of that department on Monday.