Marilyn Balcombe

This Strategic Plan for the Montgomery County Department of Police outlines a course for a safer, more connected future by emphasizing public safety, organizational refinement, communication, health and wellness, workforce development, technology, and youth engagement. It aims to build trust through transparency, accountability, and collaboration, extending beyond crime reduction to foster meaningful community engagement and uphold racial equity and justice.

The council discussed concerns regarding the lack of adequate public outreach and engagement for a proposed bus depot project. Council members expressed discomfort with approving a project that had not undergone sufficient community communication, despite it being included in previous Capital Improvement Program (CIP) processes. It was proposed that the project be removed from the current CIP to allow time for proper public outreach, with the possibility of reintroduction in a future budget cycle.

The commission held a virtual public forum to discuss policing matters, including presentations from subcommittees on compliance, data, and public schools. The compliance subcommittee provided updates on evaluating the police department's adherence to various police reform efforts. The data subcommittee discussed initiatives to modernize the police department's record management system and improve report quality. The public school committee reviewed the history of school resource officers and disciplinary codes, inviting community feedback on school safety and the current role of community engagement officers. The public forum session allowed community members to testify and express diverse perspectives regarding the presence of law enforcement within schools.

Councilmember Friedson discussed the need for adequate public outreach regarding the identification of bus depot sites and their inclusion in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The discussion centered on a motion to remove a specific bus depot project from the current CIP budget, arguing that insufficient public consultation had taken place and proposing that the project be reconsidered in the future once the necessary outreach has been completed.

The meeting featured a proclamation recognizing Earth Month, focusing on recommitting to environmental sustainability, climate change goals, and the protection of natural resources within the county. Key discussion topics included the expansion of EV charging stations, food composting programs, efforts to reduce the waste stream, and the promotion of native species. The committee also celebrated local environmental initiatives, discussed the importance of renewable energy, and encouraged residents to reduce their carbon footprint in alignment with the county's climate action plan.