MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Make a $125 Donation to our Montgomery County Police Foundation and your Race Entry is FREE!
To earn your free entry, make your $125 tax deductible donation during the registration process and your race entry fee with automatically be credited. Must make your contribution at the same time as your race registration to be eligible for your discount. Other restrictions may apply.
A Brief History of our Agency
In 1922, there were six county constables enforcing laws in the county, but each had arrest powers only in the particular election districts to which they were assigned. The Sheriff and his deputies provided the only county-wide law enforcement. This changed in April 1922, when the Maryland legislature directed the County Commissioners to appoint six “constables at large” to be known as the Montgomery County Police.
On July 4, 1922, five officers and a Chief were installed as the first Montgomery County Police Officers. They were appointed to two-year non-merit commissions renewable at the discretion of the county commissioners. For several years, since there was no police station, the officers would meet on the courthouse steps at 2:00 p.m. every day. The five officers drove motorcycles, while the Chief drove a Ford coupe.
Today, more than 1,300 sworn officers assisted by 600 support personnel provide full service to a large suburban county with over one million people.
This photo was taken at the Independence Day Celebration in 1922 at Reed Brothers Dodge.
Pictured left to right: Earl Burdine, Lawrence Clagett, Guy Jones, Chief Charles Cooley, Leroy Rodgers, and Oscar Gaither.
