Charles Moose, Former MOCO Police Chief, Dies At 68

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Charles Moose, who led the Montgomery County Police Department during the 2002 D.C. Sniper investigation, has died at 68. Moose's wife said he died on Thanksgiving Day, according to MCP. The cause of death has not been announced.

Moose was chief of police during the shootings, which took the lives of 10 people in the Washington, D.C., area, mostly in Montgomery County.

"We are extremely saddened by the news announcing the passing of former Chief Charles Moose," said Chief Marcus Jones in a statement. "He was a great leader and led our department through the DC Sniper investigation, one of the most difficult crime sprees in our country’s history. We send condolences to his wife Sandy and all of his family and friends."

John Allen Muhammad, 41, and 17-year-old Lee Boyd Malvo were arrested three weeks after the shootings began.

Less than a year after the arrests, Moose started to write a memoir about the investigation and then resigned when the Montgomery County ethics commission expressed concern that he could profit off of his public service and prosecutors said it could affect the jury selection for the trial, The Washington Post reported. Moose ended up writing and publishing the memoir, titled "Three Weeks in October: The Manhunt for the Serial Sniper."

"I am saddened to hear about the passing of former Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose," said County Executive Marc Elrich in a statement. "Chief Moose served for five years as our Chief from 1999-2003 and will be remembered as the face of Montgomery County during the 2002 D.C. Sniper tragedy."

"For 23 days, Chief Moose provided a calming presence in the midst of the terror and fear that consumed our County and the Washington Region and was nationally recognized for his efforts," said Elrich in the statement. "We are forever grateful for his contributions to public safety during his tenure, and our thoughts are with his wife, Sandy Moose, along with his family and friends. I urge the residents of Montgomery County to remember and appreciate Chief Moose’s leadership and service."