Robert Contee will oversee a new policing strategy in D.C. as he exits

What he’s saying: “It’s getting back to basics,” said Contee, a D.C. native who said he earned plaudits as a young officer for engaging closely with his community. “Our officers are problem solvers and are here to help the community.”

• He said residents can expect cops to help more with quality-of-life concerns, like sending requests to 311.

ICYMI: Contee is retiring from the Metropolitan Police Department after 2.5 years as chief and more than 30 years as an officer. His last day is June 3.

The big picture: Bowser said she is beginning a national search to pick a new chief.

Between the lines: Contee’s two predecessors were veteran D.C. cops. The last time a chief was picked from outside the city was in 1998 when Charles Ramsey arrived from Chicago.

• A job application says “community policing” is not just a “buzzword” for D.C.

Contee said he hopes his success story of growing up in a working-class Northeast neighborhood is a model for others.

• “A kid from Carver Terrace, to rise up to be the chief of police and now an assistant director of the FBI, that’s going to inspire some kids."