MCPD Chief and 6th District Police talk public safety in the Village

On Monday, Sept. 23, Montgomery County Police Chief Marc Yamada and 6^th District Police Commander Eric Stancliff, along with several staff members, provided a public safety update for members of the Montgomery Village community. Yamada and Stancliff were joined by Lieutenant Kathy Estrada, Lieutenant John King, Captain Marc Erme and Sargeant Bill Powell, noting that many of their officers, Yamada and Stancliff included, were long-time county residents who understand the dynamic of working in the 6^th District.

Stancliff provided these Montgomery Village Crime Stats, comparing year-to-date for 2024 against the 4-year average:

Regarding the homicides, Stancliff said during the incident that occurred in the last 4 years, officers were on the scene in 1 minute, and a witness helped identify the suspect immediately. In the case of the latest homicide, which happened Sunday, Sept. 22, on the 18500 block of Boysenberry Drive, he reported there is no suspect at the moment and the incident remains an active investigation.

He stressed the importance of reporting anything witnesses see or hear to the police—including Ring video or other exterior cameras—as it aids in solving crimes faster. Detectives urge anyone with information to contact Crime Solvers of Montgomery County. Tips can be submitted anonymously at www.crimesolversmcmd.org by clicking on the “www.p3tips.com” link, or by calling 1-866-411-8477.

Yamada also reminded residents of the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) Camera-Sharing Program, MoCoConnect, and urged interested residents to learn more about the free, voluntary program and how to participate by visiting www.mococonnect.org or contacting the Violent Crime Information Center at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Registering a home security camera lets MCPD know residents have a camera system and are willing to be contacted by police in the event of a nearby crime.

Related to Residential Burglary, Stancliff noted that a majority of the burglaries cited for 2024 were vacant apartments.

Regarding the increase in Vehicle Thefts, Stancliff cautioned residents to not leave their cars running and unattended; not to leave key fobs around; lock vehicle doors; and remove valuables from vehicles. He also noted that the increase in vehicle thefts has been especially high with Kia and Hyundai cars due to the popularity of social media videos instructing how to bypass the cars’ security systems.

Stancliff noted that drug offenses have been on the increase due to the decriminalization of marijuana. He said the Montgomery County Police Foundation and Montgomery County Public Schools have partnered to provide the public with drug education tips with the Community Opioid Prevention Education (COPE) Trailer. Organizations can request to have this mobile education tool at events through the website.

Yamada also mentioned the Montgomery Goes Purple annual awareness campaign in Montgomery County that is aimed at reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use disorders. The campaign encourages people to seek help and recognizes September as “Recovery Month.” Residents can learn more and receive youth and family resources at https://montgomerygoespurple.org/.

Concerning Individual Robberies, Stancliff noted that 10 of the 34 offenses were robbery of clothing articles and were primarily youth related.

With respect to Sex Offense, Stancliff said the cases reported this year were mostly random indecent exposure, or unwanted touching by individuals who were acquainted or in a relationship.

As for Weapon Offense, Stancliff noted he is concerned with the number of guns on the street, and while there are gun laws, he felt better enforcement and punishment was necessary. Currently, unlawful carrying of a dangerous weapon is a misdemeanor in Maryland, punishable by 30 days to 3 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250 to $2,500.

In response to several questions about reducing incidents in the 6^th District—and specifically Montgomery Village—Stancliff noted that reinstating the previous Montgomery Village Team was a staffing issue at this time. He said there is a national shortage on officers, and Montgomery County was no different; a strong academy class is needed. He said the funding is still available for the MV Team, and as soon as possible, he would like to staff it. In the meantime, it is not possible to pull police officers from one area to fix issues in another. However, additional patrols still don’t stop random crimes, and vehicle break-ins are hard to prevent.

Stancliff suggested that hiring private security, for example, off-duty police officers, is an option for HOAs to consider, however, it comes at a cost. Regarding additional lighting, EVP Mike Conroy noted installation also comes at a cost, and would be dependent on the property owner (private property versus HOA property versus county property) and different required approvals.

Stancliff also noted that MCPD public safety data was a great resource to view and compare crime stats across the county. He indicated that officers are making great arrests, but perpetrators don’t get held until their court dates, so there is no immediate consequence for them or positive impact in the community. Yamada added that proactive measures, such as holding juveniles once picked up, has been taken away, and he has advocated to the County Council that help is needed. County Councilmember Dawn Luedtke added that the County Council is committed to help where it can, however, many of the laws are on a state level and out of the council’s purview.

Yamada also provided an update on the Drone as First Responder (DFR) Program that residents may have first learned about via this Village NewsVillage News Online article. He said the drone program uses live 911 calls to pinpoint incidents and launch the drone within 30 seconds, when needed. As a result, MCPD has a great response time; has helped find people; determine if weapons are on scene; and other benefits to the police. He emphasized that the drone only responds to service calls and is not just blanket surveillance. The drone will cover all of Montgomery Village.

Councilmember Luedtke also directed residents to a Conduit Street Podcast about the DFR program that she and Captain Jason Cokinos conducted with host Sarah Sample to learn more. Yamada said that currently, there are three drone sites in the county, each with its own drone. He hopes to add more drones to each location, as well as expand the number of locations in the future, but they are expensive and need additional personnel. At present, the MCPD has 2 full-time pilots on alternate schedules, plus 16 supplemental staff. Stancliff anticipates the 6^th District DFR program to be fully operational in the next several weeks.

To reach Commander Stancliff, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Lieutenant Estrada, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Of course, in an emergency, residents should dial 911; for non-emergencies, contact MCPD at 301-279-8000.