Montgomery County police chief Marc Yamada resigns

GAITHERSBURG, Md. - Montgomery County Police Chief Marc Yamada has resigned, County Executive Marc Elrich and the department confirmed Friday.

In a statement, Elrich said he accepted Yamada’s resignation effective immediately and thanked him for nearly four decades of service to the department and county residents.

Elrich said he has appointed Assistant Chief Darren Francke to serve as acting chief until a permanent replacement is named.

Yamada was selected to lead the department in 2024 ahead of the retirement of then‑Chief Marcus Jones. He previously served as an assistant chief and had been with the department for more than 35 years. He was the first Japanese‑American to lead the Montgomery County Police Department.

Police officials say the department will continue normal operations during the leadership transition and remain focused on serving Montgomery County. They say they are committed to transparency, accountability and maintaining the public’s trust as they move forward.

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