This story, originally published at 7:41 p.m. on March 11, 2024, was updated at 12:14 p.m. on March 12, 2024 to add comments from Lee Holland, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich says he is looking within the county police department for a candidate to replace retiring Chief Marcus Jones.
Elrich announced his intentions in a letter sent Monday to the County Council, noting that he is considering internal candidates because he believes the department is “heading in the right direction,” though it is facing challenges, including with staffing and recruitment.
“I believe there are several internal candidates that offer the combination of skills, experience, temperament, and credibility I am seeking,” Elrich said in the letter.
He said the candidates, whom he did not name, would be interviewed by a team of county leaders before he interviewed them during the first week of April.
If an internal candidate doesn’t make the cut, Elrich said the county will hire a firm to conduct a national search.
Lee Holland, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35, said that members of the police union agree with how Elrich is conducting his search process.
“We believe there is a strong internal candidate who has years of experience that can provide a smooth transition when police chief Marcus Jones retires,” Holland said. “We look forward to a smooth selection process and have faith that the county executive will make the correct decision on his nomination for the next police chief.”
Elrich’s letter comes more than a month after council President Andrew Friedson (D-Dist. 1) and Councilmember Sidney Katz (D-Dist. 3) sent a letter Feb. 5 to Elrich inquiring about the search for a police chief.
“We respectfully request a description of the framework you plan to utilize in this important search process and that you share that framework with all stakeholders, and in particular, all Montgomery County Police Department employees,” Friedson and Katz wrote.
In their letter, the council members emphasized the importance of the job of the police chief and said the search process must be “open and transparent,” especially because the department is facing critical staffing issues.
“Our county and our police department are at an important juncture. As you approach this next appointment, understanding the outreach and engagement elements of the search process will be necessary to ensure transparency and a successful transition,” Friedson and Katz wrote.
The search for a new chief comes as the county is looking to fill two other top leadership positions: fire chief and superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools.
Gary Cooper has been serving as the interim fire chief of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) since Scott Goldstein retired as chief in June. In November, Erlich nominated MCFRS Division Chief Charles Bailey to replace Goldstein. However, the council did not act on the nomination within the 60-day deadline and Elrich said March 5 that Bailey was no longer under consideration.
In MCPS, former administrator Monique Felder is serving as acting superintendent following the Feb. 2 resignation of Monifa McKnight in the wake of scrutiny over the school system’s handling of the sexual harassment allegations against former principal Joel Beidleman. MCPS announced that it is conducting a national search for a new superintendent.
Jones retires July 1 from the police department after a nearly 40-year career. In his letter, Elrich commended him “for his long and exemplary service to the residents of Montgomery County” and also praised the department.
Elrich noted that over the last several years, more than 250 recommendations to improve public safety have been fully implemented by the police department. Specifically, Elrich said that the department has used technology to make policing more efficient.
Like other departments nationwide, however, the county department is facing staffing shortages and recruitment issues. Elrich wrote that “rebuilding our membership” is a top priority for police.
According to the letter, candidates for chief who are “strong contenders” will participate in conversations with stakeholders and community groups, including county boards and commissions, advocacy groups, faith-based communities, the business community, the local police and government employees unions and police department management.
If an internal candidate is selected, Elrich said he would send his nomination to the council in early May to give members enough time to assess and confirm the individual before Jones’ departure, which would allow for a “seamless transition.”