Dear Friends,
Happy New Year! This is a time when people often reflect on the past year and what the new year will bring. I think for many of us there’s a lot of trepidation about what the new Congress and administration will do, and I want all of you to know that we are watching carefully and will keep you informed. Thankfully, we have some outstanding representation from Maryland.
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County Executive Elrich joined Governor Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller to congratulate Rep. Jamie Raskin. |
The 119th Congress was sworn in this week, including Angela Alsobrooks as the first Black woman to represent Maryland in the Senate and April McClain Delaney as our new Congressmember.
And we’re always glad to see Rep. Jamie Raskin sworn in again, and I want to congratulate him on his new role as ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee. His leadership will be crucial in ensuring the incoming administration adheres to the laws and the Constitution.
With Republicans now leading the House, we must prepare for the challenges this shift may bring, from potential impacts on Federal funding to policies critical to Montgomery County—like addressing climate change and promoting equity. We also are concerned about the threats made about mass deportation, which would be devastating to families, businesses and the community. As always, we will continue advocating for our residents and our shared values.
This coming week is also the anniversary of the insurrection that took place on Jan. 6, 2021, and we remember the role of our own police officers in helping to stop the terrifying and illegal storming of the Capitol. We also aren’t expecting the same type of activity as four years ago, but please know our law enforcement team works closely with law enforcement agencies throughout the DMV to be ready to respond if needed. Please stay vigilant, report emergencies to 911 and use our non-emergency Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) phone line (240) 279-8000 for all other matters.
As we reflect back on 2024, I want to highlight some of the progress we have made in public safety, I want to thank our MCPD leaders and staff, and I am pleased that crime is down across the board.
These statistics and more were discussed during my weekly media briefing with Assistant Police Chief David McBain and Lieutenant Sunyoung Kim of MCPD’s Major Crimes Division. You can watch that update here.
We are proud of our strong leadership team and their work to use innovation to help address crime. Chief Marc Yamada became police chief this past summer, and he has had a successful start. I look forward to his continued leadership. You can read more about him here.
Like every jurisdiction in the area and most across the country, we continue to have challenges in staffing. Currently, we have 166 sworn officer positions vacant, and a wave of retirements is anticipated in 2025. We are taking steps to improve our recruitment and to use technology to help address crime. We have increased officer pay and introduced a $20,000 signing bonus. We are also talking with our union leaders about possible changes that might expand our options for filling vacancies. We hired a specialized recruitment firm to assist with recruitment. Their work has included helping us redesign our website with a focus on making it easier for applicants to understand what is required and how to apply for a job with MCPD. Take a look at joinmcp.com.
We are also working to address other impediments to our recruitment, including past cannabis use. Under current state regulation, a person who consumes cannabis one to three years prior to certification is required to submit to two years of random drug screening after certification, a requirement that does not exist in neighboring Virginia and a significant recruitment disadvantage in Maryland. We sent a letter to Governor Wes Moore and look forward to discussing the issue with the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission this month.
In addition to staffing efforts, we are embracing new technology, including our Drone as First Responder program. This program has improved response times and helped thwart crimes in Silver Spring and Wheaton, and earlier this fall, we expanded it to Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village. Drones have been used most often on calls involving suspected thefts, suspicious activity and assaults. It takes less than a minute, typically, for a drone to arrive on the scene, putting eyes on suspects and key details of a case faster than a patrol officer can usually arrive. This page logs each time a drone is sent out with details about the 911 call, location and case number.
Be Intolerant of Hate
I am saddened by the horrific attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. While there is still a lot to learn from the investigation, and no one yet knows the motivation, I did want to focus on something the suspect’s brother told the media. He talked about how his brother was a Muslim but that what happened does not represent Islam. He called his brother’s actions radicalization not religion.
If you see something suspicious, say something. Sometimes, that remains our best defense against those who want to carry out acts of mass violence. Sometimes, they share their intentions, and other times, they raise the kind of red flags that law enforcement needs to know about.
I want to remind everyone of our hate-bias incident reporting portal, which we launched last month. You can call 311 or fill out a complaint form online through this website. Hate-bias incidents have no place in Montgomery County and reporting them helps us take action. The portal is easy to use, anonymous and available in multiple languages.
Paying Respect to President Jimmy Carter
But what stands out most about former President Carter is how he grew with time. His presidency was just the beginning of his legacy. His post-presidential years as a citizen, humanitarian and peacemaker were extraordinary. From advancing peace efforts across the globe to building homes through Habitat for Humanity, President Carter led by example. His work with Habitat and other important organizations has helped house millions of people across the globe and fight basic diseases, embodying his belief that everyone deserves dignity, good health and shelter.
In a 2007 interview with Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times when they were in Ethiopia together, he said: “I think there’s a human right to live a decent life, to have a home in which to sleep at night, to be free of preventable diseases, to have a modicum of education, to have some human self-respect, some hope that the future will be better than the past has been. Those are also human rights.” You can read more about his work here and about some of his other work in Ethiopia here.
President Carter’s life reminds us that leadership is not bound by titles or terms. It’s about making the world better, every day, in every way we can. His legacy will inspire generations to come.
County Can Help/Assist with New Year’s Resolutions
I want to remind everyone who made a New Year’s resolution to get in better shape that our County recreation centers are offering free gym access for the third year in a row. My personal resolution is to fit more exercise into my weekly routine.
I also want to encourage you to incorporate sustainable habits into your daily routine. To help with that, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has waste management tips at mygreenmontgomery.org. DEP also launched a Food Scraps Recycling Drop-Off program at three farmers markets across Montgomery County.
- Bethesda Central Farmers Market. 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sundays. 7600 Arlington Road, Bethesda.
- Downtown Silver Spring Market. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays. 1 Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring.
- Olney Farmers and Artists Market. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays. Maryland Route 108 and Prince Phillip Drive, Olney.
A Local Place for Kids to Use Their Energy and Have Fun
During December, I was pleased to welcome another new business to Montgomery County, Hyper Kidz in Rockville. They are excited to be in Montgomery County and offer indoor entertainment for kids.
Winter is Showing Up: Winter Weather Preparations
Winter is here and we are expecting very cold temperatures through next week and a good chance of snow later this weekend. I encourage everyone to familiarize themselves with what to do before, during and after a winter weather event. Visit our extreme cold temperature webpage for information on how to prepare. One of the best ways to stay informed is to sign up for Alert Montgomery to receive timely severe weather and emergency notifications. To receive County emergency alerts, sign up here.
During a period of extreme cold temperatures, it is very important to check on neighbors, especially those living alone. Staff from the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as community-based providers, will reach out to unhoused individuals to urge them to seek shelter. Residents concerned about the well-being of someone who is unhoused can call the 24-hour Homeless Information Line at 240-907-2688. Outreach partners will attempt to locate the individual and urge them to come indoors to a shelter.
Animals should not be left outside unattended. Our Animal Services team will be enforcing Executive Regulation 17-17, Anti-Cruelty Conditions for Dogs and Other Pets. If you see an animal left outside that appears to be in danger, call 301-279-8000.
In the coming year, I look forward to helping more people live their best lives here in Montgomery County.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
