High-Ranking Policeman Named Chief in Florida: MoCo Police

ROCKVILLE, MD — One of the top officers in the Montgomery County Police Department is stepping down and taking over as chief of police in Melbourne, Fla. Capt. David Gillespie, commander of the Fifth District, will retire from the department after a 28-year career and begin his new position later this spring, the department announced Tuesday.

A native of Montgomery County and a second-generation police officer, Gillespie began his career with the MCPD on Aug. 7, 1989. His father, Bernard Gillespie, served with the Montgomery County Police Department from 1961 to 1984 and retired as a sergeant.

During his career, Capt. Gillespie served as director of the department's Special Investigations Division, Public Safety Training Academy and Major Crimes Division. He has served as commander of the Fifth District since 2013, the department said.

Capt. Mark Plazinski, a 23-year veteran of the department, will take over as the new Fifth District commander on May 1. The district covers the northern end of the county, including Damascus, Germantown, Boyds and Clarksburg.

Image: Capt. David Gillespie, Fifth District commander (MCPD)