This story, originally published at 10:58 a.m. on Jan. 30, 2024, was updated at 3:45 p.m. on Jan. 30, 2024, to add comments from Montgomery County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Earl Stoddard about finding Jones’ replacement.
Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones, 59, announced his retirement on Tuesday after serving on the department for 38 years.
His last day will be July 1.
“Now is the right time to retire. I am grateful for the support I have received throughout my career. While I may be stepping down a few months earlier than originally planned, I won’t be far,” Jones said in a statement. “You will still see me around, actively engaging in and contributing to the well-being of Montgomery County.”
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich appointed Jones as the 17th police chief of the department in November 2019. At first, Elrich nominated two other candidates for the position, saying that he wanted to hire someone outside the department. After they withdrew, he then nominated Jones.
Montgomery County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Earl Stoddard told MoCo360 that Elrich’s approach to finding a new police chief will be different this time around.
“Before, [Elrich] felt like there were a lot of things that we needed to do to update the system, so he said maybe someone from the outside might bring us some strong characteristics,” Stoddard said. “But now that we’ve made some really important changes in how we operate, then people who have been who’ve been making that happen may be the best to continue that momentum forward.”
Stoddard said that Elrich is looking internally first because the police department is heading in a positive direction and Montgomery County’s unique culture of strong labor relations with the union is something that only someone who works here would truly understand.
“He’s not sure he wants or needs to do a national search,” Stoddard said. “He does believe that there are a few internal candidates that are viable, and so he’s going to talk to a number of stakeholders over the next couple of days and then decide on exactly how he wants to proceed.”
County Police also said that they will begin the search for a replacement right away to “ensure a smooth transition.”
Elrich released a statement Tuesday about Jones’ retirement, saying that he has appreciated Jones’ leadership, compassion and willingness to modernize the police department over the years.
“As Chief, Marcus faced unprecedented situations in our County such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd and calls for policing reforms as well as the rise of hate-filled incidents throughout the County,” Elrich said in the statement. “He consistently adapted, responded, and communicated to our communities during our toughest times with empathy and respect.”
He also praised him for helping address recruiting challenges by increasing pay for officers and providing signing bonuses for new officers.
Jones said that he is glad he was able to leave his mark on the department and make important changes.
“It has been an honor to lead such a dedicated and talented department of officers and professional staff,” Jones said. “I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am confident in the department’s continued success.”
Jones is part of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity Inc. (Theta Rho ’84).
In 2020, he was inducted into the Montgomery County Human Rights Hall of Fame. According to the document announcing the inductees, Jones was selected for serving on the Governor’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program board, the Montgomery County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council and the Maryland Violence Intervention and Prevention Advisory Council, along with helping create Montgomery County Police’s Diversity Training Program.
“Chief Jones is a respected leader, who has tirelessly served Montgomery County with unwavering commitment and dedication,” Montgomery County Police said in a release. “Throughout his tenure, he has played a pivotal role in enhancing public safety, implementing innovative policing strategies, and fostering positive relationships between MCPD and the community.”
Here’s what county officials have said on social media about Jones’ retirement: