County Police Staffing Falls Below National Average

With fewer than 1.2 sworn officers for every 1,000 residents, the staffing levels of the Montgomery County Police Department are less than half the national average.

Nationally, county jurisdictions averaged 2.7 officers per 1,000 inhabitants in 2010, according to statistics compiled by an FBI study.

"We're pretty lean," said Capt. Paul Starks, Montgomery County Police spokesman. "We currently have 1,159 police officers. Three years ago we had 1,200."

Staffing concerns are on the minds of county officials, and opinions differ on whether Montgomery is adequately covered. Police Chief Tom Manger has submitted his fiscal 2013 budget to the county, though the details have not yet been made public. As County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) considers the chief's spending plan, the Montgomery County Council Public Safety Committee is scheduled to hear a police staffing briefing on Jan. 19 at 9 a.m.

"I think our staffing levels are probably too low," said Councilmember Marc Elrich (D-at large), of Takoma Park. "They're low by national standards; they're low by comparisons to other local jurisdictions; they're just low." 

Councilmember Phil Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg takes a more measured approach.

"I think that it's premature to draw any conclusion (on county police staffing) until we have the comprehensive analysis," Andrews said. Decisions regarding adequate police coverage cannot solely be based on police-to-resident ratios, he said, pointing to resource allocation, flexible management and crime trends as equally important factors.

"I would say that we have lean force, but I wouldn't conclude from that necessarily that it's understaffed," Andrews said. "It's important to consider how Montgomery County compares in all these different respects and not to look at it on a flat approach of per capita and police officers."

But on that flat per capita approach, Montgomery's officer-to-resident ratio is less than its neighbors. Fairfax County, VA, is a little higher with 1.26 officers for every 1,000 residents. Prince George's County averages 1.73 officers per every 1,000 residents, and Washington, D.C., has 6.32 per 1,000 residents.

In 2005, Manger submitted a staffing plan to then County Executive Doug Duncan (D), which called for adding 250 police positions over five years. The result would have brought the county's sworn force to 1,450. 

"While I still think that would be a great goal, it is not fiscally feasible with the current economic conditions," Manger said. "I have prioritized the positions that we need the most to address the crime that occurs in this county. I have focused on where the crime occurs, what type of crime is having the greatest impact, and who are the individuals and groups responsible for committing the crime." 

According to Manger, the cuts made to on-street officer positions were as minimal as possible. 

"We have not had to adjust shift hours or increase our overtime costs, with the exception of additional overtime money to address the increase in activity in downtown Silver Spring," Manger said.

Starks said the county has adequate coverage. "9-1-1 calls are being answered and they're being responded to," he said.

County staffing numbers receive a boost from the municipal jurisdictions of Rockville, Takoma Park and Gaithersburg, which account for another 150 sworn officers, Andrews said.

The municipal forces do take some of the load off the county, particularly in Takoma Park, which has a standalone force that handles crime-fighting duties on its own.

The Rockville Police Department is fully staffed with 57 officers and has successfully managed to juggle duties and responsibilities between county officers and municipal officers, Rockville Police Chief Terrance Treschuk said. 

"The county has to take care of its own issues, just like we do, and it's a good relationship between the two agencies," Treschuk said.