Local leaders gathered Wednesday to celebrate County Police Chief Marcus Jones as he retires from the police department after nearly four decades.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore delivered a video message to Jones: “And while your leadership will be missed, your legacy will continue to inspire us all.”
The community learned Tuesday that Jones will continue working with the county in a different capacity — he was appointed Chief of Security and Compliance for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). He will start his new job with MCPS in July after retiring from the police department.
“I’m looking forward to bringing what expertise I have and all of the relationships that I’ve gotten to know across the county and beyond to help MCPS,” Jones said during the event at The Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville. He said it is not only about helping MCPS, but helping the community.
“I want people to feel safe. I want children to feel safe. I want staff to feel safe,” Jones said.
Jones was appointed police chief in 2019. He stressed that the job is tough, and said it was the plan to leave the position “if I could make it to the five-year mark.”
“I don’t think the school system could’ve picked a better person,” said County Executive Marc Elrich, “because he’s familiar with the county, he’s familiar with the issues of public safety, he’s involved in negotiations with the school system, how we deal with the [school officers], and he knows this community. It’s hard to get all those things in one person.”
“Your leadership and unwavering commitment to our community is truly enhancing public safety and fostering positive relations,” said County Councilmember Sidney Katz. Acknowledging it is not goodbye, Katz said councilmembers look forward to working with Jones in his new role with MCPS.
Elrich and Katz read a proclamation, which was also presented to Jones on Tuesday during a council meeting.
After joining the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) in 1985, Jones worked his way up to becoming police chief, according to MCPD. In 2020, he was inducted into the Montgomery County Human Rights Hall of Fame.
Marc Yamada, currently Assistant Chief with MCPD, will lead the department after Jones retires. Yamada has worked for the county police department since 1988. Elrich nominated him for police chief in May, and he was unanimously approved for the position by the county council last week.
County State’s Attorney John McCarthy congratulated both Jones and Yamada: “We have a tremendous police department in this community. And the men and women of this department are gratified to know that there is faith from the County Executive that men and women have come through this department, can rise to this level and run this department.”
“I’m looking forward to the challenges,” Yamada said. He said it is an honor to serve as police chief in the county where he grew up and raised his family.
