Montgomery Co. Police Chief J. Thomas Manger To Retire In April

BETHESDA, MD — Longtime Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger on Wednesday announced he is retiring after 15 years with the department.

Manger, who will leave the force in April, is the second longest serving police chief in the 97-year history of the Montgomery County Police Department, according to officials. Following his 42-year career as a police officer, Manger said he plans to lead the Major Cities Chiefs Association and expand its legislative agenda in the nation's capital.

"It has been an honor to serve the public for the past 42 years," Manger said. "I have been blessed throughout my career to work alongside some of the finest men and women to ever wear a badge. I want to especially thank Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and past county executives Doug Duncan and Isiah Leggett, as well as Kate Hanley, a former chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, for their confidence in me."

A University of Maryland graduate, Manger began his law enforcement career in 1976 as a "summer cop" in Ocean City, Md. He then served as the chief of police for Fairfax County, Va. for six years before joining the Montgomery County Police Department. Manger was sworn in as Montgomery County's chief of police on Jan. 30, 2004.

Manger announced he was retiring on the 15th anniversary of his swearing-in.

Montgomery County County Executive Marc Elrich praised Manger for shaping the police department during his tenure. In a statement, Elrich said Manger pushed for officers to wear body cameras and helped the state pass the 2016 Drunk Driving Reduction Act, also called Noah's Law.

"This is a bittersweet day for Montgomery County," said Elrich. "Chief Manger has set the bar high for police leadership, outstanding service both locally and nationally, and leaves the department and County better and safer than when he arrived."

During his tenure, Manger received a number of national awards, including the 2007 Law Enforcement Award from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the 2017 Keeper of the Dream award from the National Immigration Forum, and the 2018 FBI National Executive Institute Penwith Award, according to a statement. In 2012, Manger was also inducted into the Montgomery County Human Rights Hall of Fame.

Recently, Washingtonian magazine made Manager one of its 2018 Washingtonians of the Year.

"Chief Manger often says that the most important qualities he seeks in new officers are communication skills, which are essential in building relationships of trust and diffusing conflicts, and compassion, which cannot be taught," Elrich said. "He leaves the County with a highly trained, professional force of officers who reflect an overarching spirit of public service, hard work, and dedication to the public good. They are an apt reflection of the chief himself, and his legacy here in the County will live on as they continue to work to protect and serve our residents. I congratulate him on his retirement and look forward to working closely with him to select our next Chief of Police."

Image via Montgomery County Police Department