MCPS to evaluate effectiveness of Community Engagement Officer program

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will gather feedback from students, staff and community members on the effectiveness of the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) program with a November deadline to report back to the board, according to a school board resolution approved Thursday.  

The CEO program involves county police officers assigned to a specific high school and its feeder schools, known as a cluster. The officers have an office in their assigned high school, but do not patrol hallways.  

The program was introduced in the 2022-2023 school year after MCPS removed county police officers, known as school resource officers, from campuses the previous year following concerns over students of color being disproportionately disciplined. Some community members have argued that returning to using school resource officers, who were assigned to high schools and patrolled campuses, would make schools safer.   

On March 18, school board member Brenda Wolff (Dist. 5) put forth a resolution directing MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor to “solicit student, staff, parent and community input on the current CEO program within the context of school safety.” On Thursday, the board unanimously approved the resolution...

 https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/05/13/mcps-evaluate-community-engagement-officer-program/ 

MCPS leaders discuss increased school security, possible metal detectors

...Former county police chief Marcus Jones, who is now MCPS’ Security and Compliance Chief, said on Wednesday they are in the "early stages" of researching metal detectors. Jones revealed they’re talking with school districts that already have the security tool to see what their experiences have been like. Officials warned that this is something that will have to be budgeted for. They’ll also have to review how to build the use of metal detectors into the school day, especially at the county’s larger high schools. Another major part of the safety conversation includes security staff and clamping down on drug use on MCPS campuses... 

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/mcps-leaders-talk-increased-school-security-possible-metal-detectors?utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawFJdvVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHflhSb4xrZaPPuuAfDl-l9J_LYwLMYD1l4vhDt_cOTcI7LeXTQCUZmNlkg_aem_UqQHZzlqPhZmBED2FTt9JQ

‘I’m going in’ — Montgomery Co. police on school safety, role under new agreement

Students in Montgomery County, Maryland, are returning to school just months after the system’s first ever on-campus shooting, and police say they have worked with school officials to increase safety while working to address concerns over equity.

Police are operating under a revised agreement on officers’ roles within schools. Maryland law requires that schools have “adequate law enforcement coverage” at each public school...

‘I’m going in’ — Montgomery Co. police on school safety, role under new agreement - WTOP News

Police Won’t Patrol Inside Schools But Will Be Involved in School Safety

Under a newly-signed memorandum of understanding between Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery County Police Department, community police officers will have a designated space inside schools where they can speak with students, but they will not patrol hallways and outside grounds.

Under the new Community Engagement Officers 2.0, police officers will check into the high school, middle schools and elementary schools in their assigned cluster daily to speak with the principals. However, they will not be inside the building most of the school day...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/police-wont-patrol-inside-schools-but-will-be-involved-in-school-safety/

An hour before Montgomery County Council meeting on police in public schools, @mcps @mocoboe sends out e-mail to parents/guardians.

 Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2022, 01:34:59 PM EDT

Subject: Community Message: New Agreement Signed Guiding Community Engagement Officer Program

Dear MCPS Community

The following email shares a message about the new agreement guiding the Community Engagement Officer program between county police and Montgomery County Public Schools.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publicinfo/community/school-year-2021-2022/Community-Update-20220426-final.html

Montgomery County Public Schools

Many Parents Express Support for Return of School Resource Officers

The subject of School Resource Officers (SRO) remains a hot topic in Montgomery County.

When MyMCM asked parents on our Facebook page how they would feel if SROs returned into the schools, we received more than 104 comments, many expressing strong support for returning these police officers back into Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/many-parents-express-support-for-return-of-school-resource-officers/

Police May Return to MCPS Schools, Students at Gaithersburg HS React

After pulling police from MCPS before SRO study completed, Elrich to bring them back

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Montgomery County officials are soon expected to approve a new plan that would place police officers back in schools. The about-face comes after several violent incidents inside Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) during the 2021-2022 school year...

 https://wjla.com/news/crisis-in-the-classrooms/montgomery-county-public-schools-school-resource-officers-police-council-marc-elrich-students-parents-study-feedback-hybrid-program?fbclid=IwAR0fritVJwhV3SvXaoK24HTT44VNcDXIJaQAz8icSY9PQnTnYakUjFsSBYg

Montgomery leaders privately negotiate bringing police back to schools

Montgomery County’s public school system and the Montgomery County Police Department have privately drafted an agreement to bring armed police back into school buildings, angering student activists and criminal justice advocates who successfully pushed county leaders to remove the officers last fall.

The proposed contract between the two agencies, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post, has been shared with County Council members and County Executive Marc Elrich (D), but not with members of the public who say they should have a chance to review the document before it is finalized.

“It’s wildly inappropriate that they’ve excluded students,” said Kyson Taylor, a senior at Richard Montgomery High School...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/03/29/montgomery-county-schools-police/

MCPS called 911 center nearly 1,700 times in first four months of school year, data shows

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Montgomery County Public Schools may soon begin clearing officer space for the police department, a new plan revealed Tuesday details.

A growing number of people have demanded the return of school resource officers amid a violent academic year, which peaked during the Magruder High School shooting on Friday, Jan. 21.

New data presented to the Montgomery County Council Wednesday showed Montgomery County Public Schools called the Emergency Communications Center 1,688 times during the first four months of the school year, from Aug. 31 - Dec. 31...

https://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-county-public-schools-police-resource-officers-community-engagement-violence-crime-arrest-council-executive-new-plan-return?fbclid=IwAR3eONaa9jXMtlVY5U6OUWC50cyAM-fuyvepm56Lrjgi6yRDWlrDF7WRGcE

Only on WTOP: Magruder student stuck for hours in classroom with alleged shooter speaks out

It has been nearly a week since a 15-year-old student was shot and critically injured in a bathroom at Magruder High School in Derwood, Maryland, and new information has emerged about what happened in the hours following the shooting.

As the school went into lockdown Friday, the alleged 17-year-old shooter, Steven Alston, was ushered into a classroom...

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2022/01/only-on-wtop-students-were-trapped-for-hours-with-alleged-magruder-high-school-shooter/

Listen: When the alleged Magruder High School shooter was arrested last week, he was in a classroom with other students. This 16-year-old girl was in that room and explains how the traumatic situation unfolded. @WTOP pic.twitter.com/SsG4pOgejy

— Nick Iannelli (@NickWTOP) January 27, 2022

4 Northwood High School students rob another student in bathroom, police sources say

SILVER SPRING, Md. (7News) — Four Northwood High School students are accused of robbing a fellow student of his shoes inside of a school bathroom, police sources tell 7News.

Around 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, Montgomery County Police were called to Northwood. Multiple patrol units, including the assigned community engagement officer, responded.

According to police sources, four male students "ganged up" on the juvenile victim in the bathroom. Two of the juvenile suspects assaulted the victim while the other two suspects passed the victim's shoes back and forth, sources added. No weapons were used...

https://wjla.com/news/local/four-northwood-high-school-students-rob-fellow-student-in-bathroom-police-sources-say

Police: School Shooting Suspect had Ghost Gun Parts ‘Literally Delivered to His Home

The 17-year-old Magruder High School student charged with shooting another student in a school bathroom had ghost gun parts delivered to his home, Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) Chief Marcus Jones said during a press conference Monday. 

“Three different parts were literally delivered to his home residence,” Jones said at police headquarters in Gaithersburg. He said the suspect purchased the ghost gun himself...

https://www.mymcmedia.org/police-school-shooting-suspect-had-ghost-gun-parts-literally-delivered-to-his-home/?fbclid=IwAR13hIBFuH9MHzFnHdDM1fgSgtohjdyBdQtv5aRn_yOGmNRNFJHJzp2UlhY

Magruder Community Meeting - January 22, 2022

MoCo Executive Marc Elrich just shared that five ghost guns have been recovered from Montgomery County Public Schools this school year. @mcps @mocoboe

MoCo Executive Marc Elrich just shared that five ghost guns have been recovered from Montgomery County Public Schools this school year.

That includes the ghost gun confiscated after Friday's shooting at Magruder High School.

Elrich is pushing for tougher ghost gun legislation. pic.twitter.com/lhb2HFxo7T

— Kevin Lewis (@KevinLewis7News) January 26, 2022

WUSA9: Magruder High School shooting suspect held without bond

Only on WTOP: Magruder student stuck for hours in classroom with alleged shooter speaks out

It has been nearly a week since a 15-year-old student was shot and critically injured in a bathroom at Magruder High School in Derwood, Maryland, and new information has emerged about what happened in the hours following the shooting.

As the school went into lockdown Friday, the alleged 17-year-old shooter, Steven Alston, was ushered into a classroom...

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2022/01/only-on-wtop-students-were-trapped-for-hours-with-alleged-magruder-high-school-shooter/

Listen: When the alleged Magruder High School shooter was arrested last week, he was in a classroom with other students. This 16-year-old girl was in that room and explains how the traumatic situation unfolded. @WTOP pic.twitter.com/SsG4pOgejy

— Nick Iannelli (@NickWTOP) January 27, 2022

Here is a pic from the @mcps @mocoboe classroom, you’ll see part of the gun under the chair, the slide was in the backpack he said. @WTOP

Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones says when they identified and arrested Alston, they found the gun disassemble. Here is a pic from the classroom, you’ll see part of the gun under the chair, the slide was in the backpack he said. @WTOP pic.twitter.com/wONQdR5mzP

— Mike Murillo (@MikeMurilloWTOP) January 24, 2022

@PerrisFox5DC MAGRUDER HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING: There are still more questions than answers after a 15-year-old student was shot Friday at Magruder High School in Montgomery County. Today school and law enforcement officials provided more insight into how they responded to the situation. (1/2)

Authorities have not said what led to the shooting or where it took place inside the school.

This clip is from our report Friday night. This student who says he knew the victim told us he heard there was some sort of fight before the shooting. pic.twitter.com/mQ0hgJA9wF

— Perris Jones (@PerrisFox5DC) January 23, 2022

Magruder H.S. principal apologizes after telling community there was 'no immediate threat'

DERWOOD, Md. (7News) — Magruder High School's principal has apologized after sending an email saying there was "no immediate threat to the safety of staff or students" following a shooting that left a male student with critical injuries.

At 12:53 p.m. Friday, school security staff became aware of a situation in a bathroom, Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones confirmed during an evening press conference. After determining the student had been shot, the school called 911 at 12:57 p.m. Magruder went into "a full lockdown" at 1:05 p.m., per Jones.

"Any [community engagement officers] on the air available to respond to Magruder High School?" a dispatcher said on the sixth district police channel at 1:03 p.m.

"You said Magruder High School?" a sheriff's deputy responded seconds later...

https://wjla.com/news/local/magruder-high-school-derwood-shooting-student-bathroom-montgomery-county-public-schools-lockdown-police-officers-mcknight