A D.C. police commander is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department's Internal Affairs Bureau after she instructed her officers to collect signatures for the mayor's pledge to end homelessness, a top police official confirmed.

Seventh District Commander Vendette Parker gave officers in her district, which covers most of Southeast D.C. east of the Anacostia River, a quota to get at least five signed pledges each from residents while on patrol, Assistant Chief Diane Groomes confirmed.

Parker did not immediately respond to an inquiry.

The Fraternal Order of Police D.C. Police Union said ordering officers to collect signatures would be a misuse of police resources and a possible violation of federal law that prohibits government employees from engaging in politics.

The commander was told police can distribute the pledge but not collect signatures, Groomes said. The IAB and the MPD's general counsel will review the matter to determine if Parker violated any laws, according to Groomes.

News4's Mark Segraves broke the story Tuesday afternoon on Twitter.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, who made ending homelessness a key component of her mayoral campaign, unveiled the anti-homelessness pledge on Sept 1.

"Far too many men, women and children live on our streets and in our shelters," the pledge says. "Together, we will end homelessness for veterans by 2015. And we will make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring by 2020."

A representative for the mayor told News4 that Bowser never intended for government employees to collect signatures.