The Montgomery County Police Department is facing recruitment and retirement challenges, according to a report presented to the County Council. With 166 vacant sworn officer positions out of 1,278, the department is struggling to maintain public safety standards. Response times for priority calls have improved in 2024, but routine call times vary across districts. Overtime costs have also escalated, with actual spending exceeding the budget by $8.3 million. Additionally, 32% of sworn officers are eligible for retirement, further complicating recruitment efforts.
To address these issues, police departments across Maryland and Washington, D.C., are offering signing bonuses of up to $25,000 to attract new recruits. The Montgomery County Police Department’s challenges will be discussed at the County Council’s Public Safety Committee work session, where updates will be provided by Police Chief Marc Yamada and Assistant Chief Darren Francke. The department is working to address these challenges while striving to maintain public safety standards amidst an impending wave of retirements.
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