As the Montgomery County Police Department faces staff shortages since 2020, a new group of officers is joining the force.
21 new officers are with MCPD. 16 others went to the Sheriff’s Office and the Gaithersburg, Rockville, Takoma Park and Maryland‑National Capital Park police departments.
“I was born and raised here in Montgomery County,” said new MCPD Officer Alfredo Hernandez. He was in the military and after finishing that chapter, he saw the opportunity to be a police officer: “I was like, this is the perfect time to join.” He was a canine handler for years and would be interested in working with the K9 unit or motors.
The new officers graduated from the 80th session of the Montgomery County Police Academy and took their oaths at Montgomery College’s performing arts center in Rockville.
“I think by my nature I would consider myself a rule follower,” said new MCPD Officer Gabriel Soto. “And I wanted the opportunity to have a voice and to speak up and enforce laws for those that follow rules and [for] those that do not, bring justice to everybody else.” He has a 14-year IT career and hopes to bring those skills when the time is right.
Next comes field training for these officers.
