Montgomery County Assistant Chief Marc Yamada was unanimously approved – without any discussion by members of the county council – to be the new county police chief.
He replaces Chief Marcus Jones, who is retiring July 1.
Yamada has worked for the county police department since August of 1988 and has risen in the ranks since then. He was instrumental in beginning the county’s drone as first responder program. He is the first person of Japanese heritage to hold this position in Montgomery County and has been named police officer of the year three times.
Yamada will be paid $245,000 plus benefits.
He was nominated by Executive Marc Elrich and interviewed by county councilmembers. Earlier Tuesday, Elrich said he is proud of the police department and happy that Yamada will now lead it.
When Yamada starts July 1, he will oversee a department of 1,300 sworn officers and 650 civilian officers.
The Council confirms Marc Yamada as Montgomery County’s incoming chief of police. County Executive Elrich officially nominated Yamada for the post on May 3. Incoming Chief Yamada is a distinguished public safety professional with more than three decades of experience with MCPD. pic.twitter.com/asQRqpvHsL
— Montgomery Council (@MoCoCouncilMD) June 18, 2024