The Rockville City Police Department (RCPD) is a fully accredited, community policing agency that works with the public and other law enforcement agencies to provide police protection, services, education and enforcement for the Rockville community. Itis committed to ensuring the safety and protection of homes, businesses, schools and the people who occupy them. In Fiscal Year 2016, the RCPD sought its eighth reaccreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), a distinction bestowed early in Fiscal Year 2017 in recognition of the department’s continued high standard of professionalism and organization.
The department’s Community Enhancement/Code Enforcement Unit leads the city’s ongoing effort to preserve property values and housing stock by maintaining and improving the community’s appearance. Under the Community Enhancement Program, housing inspectors patrol neighborhoods in a proactive effort to identify and eliminate code violation and address property maintenance, with an emphasis on identifying and licensing rental homes.
The RCPD collaborates with 13 civic associations throughout the city to address quality of life issues as efficiently and as effectively as possible and maintains a strong Business and Neighborhood Watch program. The Neighborhood Services Unit’s animal control officers respond to all animal-related complaints and the unit oversees licensing and vaccinations for city pets, including cats, dogs and ferrets.
In FY16, the department:
- RCPD recorded a steady decline in the number of Part I crimes, which are crimes against people (murder, rape, robbery and assault) and property (burglary, larceny and theft). Such crimes decreased from 1,929 in Fiscal Year 2002 to 1,173 in FY16, even as the city’s population grew.
- Successfully implemented changes to the city’s animal control ordinance, including the licensing of dogs, cats, ferrets and chickens and new laws regarding tethering and sheltering and chickens and chicken coops.
- Chief Terrance N. Treschuk retired June 1, after 27 years of service ,receiving a Lifetime Achievement award during the Rockville Public Safety Awards and a key to the city from the Mayor and Council. Maj. Bob Rappoport was named acting chief.
- In March, hosted an onsite assessment visit by representatives of CALEA, as part of the process toward earning reaccreditation as a law enforcement agency for another four years.
- In April, held the city’s largest Drug Take-Back Day to date, with over 430 pounds of medication collected.
- Retired K-9 Boomer and certified new K-9 Bodi.
- Implemented policies and procedures for opiate overdose response program.
Accolades
- Seven police officers were honored during the 27th annual Rockville Public Safety Awards in June, receiving six Distinguished Service Citations and a Meritorious Service Award.
- The department was the first runner-up in the municipal division of the Click It or Ticket Challenge at the Montgomery County Police Department’s annual Traffic Symposium Awards.