Crime drops
in Downtown
Silver Spring
(2026, March 10). Montgomery Community Media. https://www.mymcmedia.org/crime-drops-in-downtown-silver-spring/

" Overall crime in Downtown Silver Spring has decreased since 2024 by eight percent, according to a report on 2025 by the Montgomery County Police Department.

Assaults involving guns dropped 53%, carjackings decreased by 35%. Theft of auto parts were reduced by 34% and auto theft decreased by 16%. Robbery was down 9.6% and the discharge of weapons fell by 18%.

Homicides remained constant. There were nine in both 2024 and 2025. Crimes against property such as robberies, burglaries and auto theft were down 13%.

Better for Business
“We have known for a while that things were trending down,” said Stephanie Helsing, president and CEO of the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce.

She credited the decrease in crime to police officers’ “proactive policies” and their partnerships with the chamber and business owners.

The chamber meets monthly with various groups, including police, to review security and understand what is needed. ”We are 100% behind our MCPD officers. We know we are moving in the right direction,” Helsing said.

She pointed to the monthly Chamber Coffee and Cards events, in which officers are treated to coffee and breakfast while business owners exchange business cards and both sides mingle. This has resulted in “increasing people’s comfort in seeing police presence,” according to Helsing.

The next event is March 26 at Cafe K on Spring Street.

The next step is to convince more shoppers to return to Downtown Silver Spring, she said.

Police Work Pays Off
Montgomery County Police Chief Marc Yamada said the progress reflects the department’s commitment to proactive policing and strong partnerships across the community.

“These results reflect the dedication of our officers and the strong partnerships we have with businesses, residents and community organizations,” said Yamada. “Public safety is a shared effort, and we will continue working with our community and business partners to keep Silver Spring safe.”

According to police, the strategy has included increased patrols and proactive enforcement throughout the central business district. Officers have also been working closely with members of the unhoused community. They help connect individuals with resources through partnerships with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and other government agencies.

Prevention Matters
A holiday retail task force focused on preventing theft in Downtown Silver Spring’s shopping areas during the holidays was effective, according to Third District Commander Jason Cokinos. The initiative brought together MCPD officers, loss prevention personnel and local businesses, including Ellsworth Place, to address retail theft during the busy holiday season.

“Crime can’t be eliminated entirely, but our goal is always to reduce crime wherever and whenever we can,” said Cokinos. “That means being proactive, using data to focus our resources where they’re needed most and working closely with our business community and our partners in government. When we work together, we can make a real difference.”

The county police also strengthened coordination with the Metro Transit Police Department around transit stations and surrounding areas to address crime trends and enhance safety for residents and commuters. "

Crime Down in Silver Spring as MCPD Expands Proactive Policing and Partnerships
(2026, March 4). Montgomery County Maryland. https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail_Pol.aspx?Item_ID=48354

" The Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) is reporting continued reductions in crime in the department’s 3rd District (Silver Spring), with new data showing overall crime has decreased since 2024 as officers expand proactive policing strategies and partnerships with local businesses and community organizations.

Overall crime in the Silver Spring area is down 8 percent. Several categories have seen notable decreases, including assaults involving guns, which are down 53 percent; carjackings, down 35 percent; theft of auto parts, down 34 percent; and auto theft, down 16 percent. Robbery has decreased by 9.6 percent, and weapons discharges have dropped by 18 percent. Homicides remain unchanged from 2024, with nine reported in both years.

In addition, total crimes against persons, which include assaults, homicides and sex offenses, have decreased by more than 9 percent.

Montgomery County Police Chief Marc Yamada said the progress reflects the department’s commitment to proactive policing and strong partnerships across the community.

“These results reflect the dedication of our officers and the strong partnerships we have with businesses, residents and community organizations,” said Chief Yamada. “Public safety is a shared effort, and we will continue working with our community and business partners to keep Silver Spring safe.”

A key component of the strategy has been increased patrols and proactive enforcement throughout the central business district. Officers have also been working closely with members of the unhoused community, connecting individuals with resources through partnerships with the County’s Department of Health and Human Services and other government agencies.

Third District Commander Jason Cokinos also launched a holiday retail task force focused on preventing theft in Downtown Silver Spring’s shopping areas. The initiative brought together MCPD officers, loss prevention personnel and local businesses, including Ellsworth Place, to address retail theft during the busy holiday season.

“Crime can’t be eliminated entirely, but our goal is always to reduce crime wherever and whenever we can,” said Commander Cokinos. “That means being proactive, using data to focus our resources where they’re needed most and working closely with our business community and our partners in government. When we work together, we can make a real difference.”

MCPD has also strengthened coordination with the Metro Transit Police Department around transit stations and surrounding areas to address crime trends and enhance safety for residents and commuters.

The 2025 Annual Report on Crime and Safety is now available on the Montgomery County Department of Police Website. "

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MCPD Camera Registry Program

The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) recently announced the launch of MoCoConnect, the MCPD's community camera sharing program. MoCoConnect is a collaboration between MCPD and Fusus by Axon to enable private citizens to register home security cameras, which alerts police in case of crime and integrates businesses for real-time video sharing.

“The department is always looking for ways to work collaboratively with the community to prevent, detect, and deter crime," said Montgomery County Chief of Police Marc Yamada. "This is a great way for members of the public, business community, and residents alike to be active participants in keeping our communities safe.”

Though the program is accessible to all officers, it will primarily be utilized by the Violent Crime Information Center, investigators, and the Managed Search Operations Team officers in locating missing persons.

There is no charge to register a camera and it only requires the completion of a short online form. There is an associated cost to integrate the cameras, however there may be assistance available depending on the nature of the site and its location.

For more information on the MoCoConnect program, including how to participate, please visit www.mococonnect.org or contact the Violent Crime Information Center at [email protected].

Businesses looking to participate can read here for information on registering your cameras.

Late Night Business Safety Plan Program

The Late-Night Safety Plan Program, which went into effect on March 19, 2024, has been recently set in its final formation. The regulation establishes the requirement of certain businesses to submit, receive approval for, and implement a Safety Plan, ensuring a uniform process for those businesses in areas experiencing higher than normal call volume in the late night hours.

The Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce strongly supported this bill and believes that the County Council can and should be an active advocate for our businesses to ensure their continued safety and growth. We believe this bill would put these newly-regulated businesses on the same footing, with the corresponding same responsibilities, as existing businesses, allowing the new businesses to stand up and fly right with everyone else, or face penalties of further regulation.

You can learn more about the program here and read the final version here.

Upcoming Events

Check back for upcoming events.

Montgomery County Police Updates

MCPD Drone Program Proves Impactful in Downtown Silver Spring. See Live Example!

Officers from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 3rd District Station, with the assistance of the MCPD drone as first responder, also known as Raven 1, arrested two men following an alleged theft that occurred at the Safeway grocery store on Thursday, November 30, 2023.

3rd District officers responded to the location following the report of an assault. Raven 1 quickly responded and observed two suspects running out of the store in possession of merchandise. Raven 1 followed them and provided responding officers with their description and location, enabling the officers to locate and take the suspects into custody.

Officers recovered the stolen merchandise and returned it to the Safeway staff.

During the months of November and December 2023, Raven 1 responded to 159 calls in downtown Silver Spring, and was the first on scene for 121 calls (a seventy-six percent of total calls first on scene). Raven 1 had an average response time of one minute and twenty-one seconds and located 27 subjects/suspects. Raven 1 canceled the need for patrol officers to respond to 22 calls and thirteen percent of the total DFR calls allowed 40 officers to go back in service or be redirected to other calls for service.

Keeping The Community Safe

Officers of Montgomery County Police, 3rd District, have been working diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of the community. On January 18, officers witnessed a shootout between two groups in Downtown Silver Spring, which posed a serious threat to public safety. Without wasting any time, the officers immediately sprang into action, utilizing a variety of resources , including patrol, plainclothes unit, K-9, and other tactical measures to converge on the area and take control of the situation.

Thanks to the swift response and coordinated efforts, the officers were able to apprehend all four suspects without any incidents or injuries. It is worth noting that all of the suspects were from out of state. Upon searching the suspects, the police found and confiscated a fully loaded AK-47 rifle, a PMF handgun, and a 9mm handgun, all of which were intended to be used in the violent altercation.

The Montgomery County Police Department has commended the officers involved for their bravery, professionalism, and dedication to duty. Their quick thinking and decisive action ensured the safety of the community and prevented a potentially deadly situation from escalating further. These dedicated officers will continue to work tirelessly to keep the community safe and secure from harm.

In another incident, a 3rd District officer conducted a routine traffic stop on Columbia Pike. During the traffic stop, the officer learned that the driver had an AR15 rifle placed between the driver's seat and the center console. The officer acted quickly and apprehended the driver without any resistance or difficulty. The firearm was seized and taken into evidence, and the driver was taken into custody for further investigation and questioning. The incident was handled professionally and safely ensuring the safety of everyone involved.

Reminder: Move Over - It's the Law!

On January 18, an officer from the 3rd District was dispatched to assist a disabled vehicle which had depleted it's fuel on southbound Columbia Pike, between the Patuxent River Bridge and the exit for Old Columbia Pike/ Dustin Rd. The Officer arrived on the scene and activated the emergency lights on their vehicle to ensure visibility to oncoming traffic. While the officer and the driver of the disabled vehicle were attempting to refuel the automobile, a Kia Sorento collided with the officers front wheel/quarter panel, causing the cruiser and its front tire to strike both the officer and the driver of the disabled vehicle. The Kia Sorento then overturned and came to rest on it's driver's side. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service responded promptly and extracted the driver of the Kia Sorento. Fortunately, no severe injuries resulted from the collision. However, this incident underscores the significance of the move-over law.

Chamber Coffee & Cards with Cops

The inaugural Chamber Coffee & Cards with Cops event was hosted by PJ's Coffee and the Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce. During the event, members of the 3rd District Executive Staff, Community Engagement Officers, and Patrol officers engaged with residents and business owners on a range of topics, including community safety, community engagement, and officer welfare. We highly recommend attending the next community engagement event to learn and connect with members of the community, additionally, we encourage everyone to make time for a warm cup of coffee and some friendly conversation, as there is no better way to foster a sense of community and combat the cold.

Stay Connected with the MCPD

Silver spring safety alliance alerts

Crime drops in ​Downtown ​Silver Spring (2026, March 10). Montgomery Community Media. https://www.mymcmedia.org/crime-drops-in-downtown-silver-spring/

​Crime Down in Silver Spring as MCPD Expands Proactive Policing and Partnerships ​(2026, March 4). Montgomery County Maryland. https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail_Pol.aspx?Item_ID=48354