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

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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

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