New Top Cop Sworn In, Battles Violent Crime In Prince George's

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Officials on July 6 swore in Malik Aziz as the next chief of the Prince George's County Police Department. The county council unanimously confirmed his nomination the same day. Aziz had served in an acting role for about two months while he waited for his confirmation.

The new top cop has already implemented a crime-fighting campaign called "Operation Heat Wave." The initiative uses community partnerships to increase police visibility and enforcement around Prince George's.

County Executive Angela Alsobrooks hopes this effort will combat the local rise in violent crime. She thinks this is especially important as crowds return to Prince George's venues.

"Chief Aziz’s experience will be invaluable," Alsobrooks wrote in a newsletter. "I cannot imagine a better individual to lead our department forward."

Retirements And Hires

Interim Chief Hector Velez retired on May 7. Alsobrooks broke the news on April 23 when she announced that police Lt. Edward Finn was arrested on tax evasion charges.

Aziz took over on May 9. He is a reform-minded official and a former deputy chief from the Dallas Police Department in Texas.

"I share the disappointment and anger of many in our community regarding yet another negative incident within our Department," Alsobrooks said in a press release after Finn's arrest. "Unfortunately, the issues that we are confronting are systemic issues that did not start under my Administration, but I am going to do everything in my power to ensure that they end under my watch."

Controversies

Aziz took over a squad that has seen several controversies over the past 17 months. Former Chief Hank Stawinski resigned in June 2020 after several Black and Brown officers filed a lawsuit against the department. Their suit alleged that the agency had for years discriminated against officers from racial minorities.

That litigation came months after police accused an officer of fatally shooting a man in handcuffs. The killing eventually led to the indictment of Cpl. Michael Owen and a $20 million settlement with the family of the victim, William Howard Green.

Within the 13 months, officers have also faced charges of

• Tasing a dog
• Assaulting a teenager
• Evading taxes
• Sexually abusing a minor
• Attempting rape
• Sharing confidential information with a sex worker

"I want to thank the many men and women of our Police Department who honorably serve our community each day," Alsobrooks continued. "The actions of officers like Lieutenant Finn do not reflect their desire to serve our residents and continue working hard to build trust between our Department and the community."

Police Reform

Alsobrooks hired Aziz about two months after she adopted sweeping police reform. The new policies will make more police records public, increase officer oversight and emphasize community engagement.

The county executive's overhaul started in July of 2020, when she created the Police Reform Work Group. The task force responded to protesters calling for social justice after George Floyd, a Black man, died while a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck last May.

By December, the reform committee recommended 50 modifications to the police department. Alsobrooks adopted 35 as written, amended 11 and struck four.

"We have the fresh start we need to continue moving forward with making our Department a model for the nation," Alsobrooks concluded.

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