ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

Until the 1920s, Montgomery County government provided little in the way of police services. Deputy sheriffs, paid according to fee schedules, were responsible for enforcing the law. In April 1922, the Montgomery County Police Department came into being when the Maryland General Assembly, at the request of the Montgomery County Commissioners, enacted Chapter 259 which directed the Commissioners to appoint six constables-at-large. At this time, six former election district constables became County police officers. The department, composed of one chief and five privates, had no office. The officers owned five motorcycles and one Ford coupe.

In 1927, the Police Department located its headquarters office in the basement of the Red Brick Courthouse and established district stations in Bethesda and Silver Spring. At this time, jurisdiction over police matters was given solely to the Police Department, while the Sheriff was responsible for serving civil papers. Chapter 35, enacted by the Maryland Legislature in 1931, increased the Police Department to twenty-seven officers. This law also created the Maryland Park Police and a Department of Criminal Identification. In 1935, Chief William Garrett established the first Detective Bureau, and in 1943 the Department installed its first two-way radio system.

The 1941 Brookings Institution report recommended removal of the Police Department from state control and the end of the political patronage system. In 1948, the Charter government reorganized the Police Department as a Division of Public Safety under the supervision of the County Manager.

In 1954, the Department moved its headquarters to the new County Office Building on Perry Street in Rockville. The Rockville Station relocated in 1963 to Seven Locks Road.

The Field Services Bureau is the largest division within the Police Department. It consists of the Administration Section, five Police Stations, and the Operational Support Division. The Bureau also has an Unassigned Patrol Officer Section to which the Police Officer Candidates report to prior to their assignment to permanent positions within the Department. The Field Services Bureau provides "management oversight to the Bureau's Divisions and advises the Chief of Police in matters relating to field operations."

The five police stations are responsible for separate districts: Rockville, Bethesda, Silver Spring, Wheaton-Glenmont, and Germantown. Each district in turn is divided into sectors and further partitioned into beats to which officers are deployed according to demographic requirements. When citizens call 911 in emergencies, district patrol officers are the first to respond. (Montgomery County Government FY 86 Organization Guide, Office of Management and Budget, 84)

For further information, please see Donald E. Brooks and Charles A. Federline's A Worthy Innovation: A History of the Montgomery County Police July 4, 1922-July 4, 1987.

PROCESSING PROCEDURES

General processing procedures consisted of discarding duplicates, unnecessary binders, and routine transmittals. Oversized documents and photographs were removed from the original location in their assigned series and placed in separate containers. Separation sheets were inserted in the original location within the folder to indicate the new location of any records placed elsewhere.

Preservation copying of newspaper clippings was performed whenever feasible. Records in folders were arranged, unless otherwise indicated, in forward chronological order, with undated records appearing at the end of the folder.

PROVENANCE

Not applicable.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The records of the Montgomery County Police Department comprise 1.3 cubic feet and consist of subject files dating primarily from 1978. They contain policies, operating procedures, monthly reports, and correspondence to and from the general public and subordinate offices within the Department. Files also include officer commendations and accident report surveys. The records detail community-relations efforts of the police force, daily experiences of police officers, and the types and frequency of crimes in Montgomery County. Names featured prominently are Chief of Police Robert di Grazia and the Field Services Bureau Chief Major Thomas Thear.

The records are arranged into three series:

Series I: Subject Files

Series II: General Correspondence

Series III: Restricted.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I: Subject Files, 1977-1979 (1.3 c.f.)

This series contains the records of the Department of Police Field Service Bureau and dates primarily from 1978. Record types include monthly reports and correspondence. Subjects include community relations programs, various body armor specifications, and budgetary considerations.

The material is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series II: General Correspondence, 1978 (1 folder)

This folder contains general correspondence concerning the Department of Police throughout 1978. Topics discussed include departmental softball games, right-of-way trespassers, and revocations of hucksters' licenses.

Series III: Restricted, 1978 (1 folder)

The restricted file contains such personnel records as reprimands, performance evaluations, and resumes. There are also several police reports relating incidents which resulted in litigation against police officers. These records have been retained for their uniqueness and departmental insight, but are restricted to the general public.

Series I: Subject Files

Box 1

Accident Report Survey, 1978

Automated Systems Modifications & Development, 1978

Beat Plan and Evaluation, 1978

Body Armor, 1978

Budget Work Sessions, 1978

Community Relations, 1978

Correspondence: Complimentary Letters, 1977-1978

Correspondence: Complimentary Letters (3 folders), 1978

Discipline Cases (tabular reports), 1978

Fraternal Order of Police, 1977-1978

Legislation, 1978

Memoranda of Understanding, 1978

Police Department Division/Offices

Bethesda District, 1978

Central Supply, 1978

Communications Division, 1978

Criminal Intelligence, 1978

Field Recommendations Committee, 1977

Field Services Staff Meetings, 1978

Investigative Service Bureau, 1978

Managing Criminal Investigation (MCI), 1977-1978

Media Services Section, 1978

Operational Support, 1977-1978

Rockville District, 1977-1978

Rockville District Monthly Reports, 1977-1978

Selective Traffic Enforcement Monthly Reports, 1978

School Safety Section, 1977-1978

Silver Spring District, 1978

Silver Spring District Monthly Reports, 1977-1978

Wheaton District Monthly Reports, 1977-1978

Box 2

Police Department Monthly Reports, 1977, 1978

Policy/Procedure

Class (Duty) Specifications, 1978-1979

Departmental Directives, 1978

Integrated Criminal Apprehension Program, 1978

Personnel Deployment Plans, 1978-1979

Personnel Deployment Plans: "An Analysis of Police Deployment Alternatives," 1979

Rockville Burglary Grant, 1977-1978

Other Subjects, 1977-1978

Box 3

State's Attorney, 1978

Series II: General Correspondence

Other Subjects, 1978

Series III: Restricted

Personnel: Evaluations, Grievances, Reprimands, 1978 RESTRICTED