MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Montgomery County police issued 269 citations during the first week of school as officers stepped up enforcement against drivers who passed stopped school buses, sped or engaged in other dangerous behavior near students.
Police Chief Marc Yamada discussed the enforcement campaign, the planned relocation of the department’s Wheaton station and ongoing recruitment efforts during an interview with 7News anchor Michelle Marsh.
Yamada said the 269 citations amounted to nearly 40 per day. Officers are proactively patrolling school zones throughout the county for speeding, distracted driving, illegally passing school buses and other violations that could endanger children.
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“We just need to slow down, pay attention, and stop when those red lights are showing on our school buses,” Yamada said.
The chief said more than 40,000 citations were issued last year, a 19% decrease from the previous year. Although the decline was encouraging, Yamada said the total remained unacceptably high when children’s safety was at risk.
Police see particularly high numbers of violations in the more densely populated Silver Spring, Wheaton and Germantown areas, Yamada said. However, he emphasized that dangerous driving near schools is a countywide problem.
Children face heightened risks while boarding and leaving buses and crossing streets on their way to and from school, the chief said.
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Yamada also provided an update on the relocation of the department’s 4th District station in Wheaton.
The station is moving from 2300 Randolph Road to 2425 Reedy Drive near Westfield Wheaton Mall. Yamada said the department hopes to complete the transition and open the new station to the public by October, although the move could occur sooner.
The Randolph Road station will remain open until the transition is complete, allowing residents to continue seeking police assistance there without a gap in service.
The existing facility was built in 1959 and is overdue for modernization, Yamada said. The chief began his own law enforcement career at that station nearly four decades ago.
The department is also trying to attract new officers as law enforcement agencies across the Washington, D.C. region compete with local and federal employers for qualified applicants.
Montgomery County police are offering a $20,000 signing bonus and a starting salary of more than $72,000. Other recruiting incentives include take-home vehicles, uniforms, health and life insurance, and educational benefits.
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Through a partnership with the University of Maryland Global Campus, recruits can earn as many as 60 college credits by completing the police academy, Yamada said.
The department is also seeking recruits who reflect Montgomery County’s diverse population. Yamada said its latest academy class had 37 graduates who collectively spoke more than 26 languages and represented places including Puerto Rico, Vietnam, Iran, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic.
“The goal being to have our officers reflect the communities that we serve,” Yamada added.
