D.C. police commander retires after internal probe, reports used cruiser to come and go from bar

A commander in the Washington, D.C., police department has submitted his retirement following a news report that found he was using a patrol car to take him to and from a bar in the city.

Commander William FitzGerald, of the Metropolitan Police Department, is a 30-year veteran on the force who in 2001 was named Investigator of the Year.

He later oversaw the detective units for all seven MPD districts, then became commander of the Fifth District, the top police official responsible for much of the city's Northeast quadrant, according to the news website DCist.com.

The department said Friday that FitzGerald had submitted his resignation.

The statement also said that based on information provided to the agency, its Internal Affairs Bureau initiated an investigation, FitzGerald subsequently submitted his notice of retirement and was then placed on administrative leave until that date. 

However, the agency also said the matter “remains under investigation.”

FitsGerald said his actions related to having used the patrol car, specifically taking him home from the bar, was "wrong."