Rockville HS Gets 'Dedicated' Officer As SRO Calls Grow

ROCKVILLE, MD — As part of an effort to make officers more visible within the Montgomery County Public School system, the Rockville City Police Department is making changes.

The department announced Tuesday that it would be stationing a "dedicated" officer at Rockville High School, effectively expanding the agency's community engagement unit.

"This growth means we’re now better positioned than ever to connect with students across all schools in the City of Rockville, building relationships, fostering trust, and creating a safe, supportive environment for learning," reads a statement issued by the department.

"Our officers aren’t just there to respond, they’re there to engage, mentor, and inspire. By being present in our schools, we’re investing in the future of our community while strengthening the partnerships that keep Rockville safe."

The assignment, the department said, addresses a desire to implement an "approachable police presence focused on connection, not just enforcement."

Calls For Improved Security

The move comes as the school district has faced repeated calls to tighten security measures and make officers more visible on campuses amid a rise in reports of guns being brought to school.

Related:

• Teen Charged As Adult After Loaded Gun Found On Campus
• Student Arrested After Bringing Gun, Knife To Campus
• Walt Whitman HS Teen Arrested In Arson, Vandalism Cases
• High School Student Detained After Gun Found On Campus
• Wootton HS Shooting Suspect To Remain In Jail, Judge Rules

Since the start of the year, several students within the MCPS system have either been charged or arrested for bringing weapons onto school grounds.

In February, a shooting at Thomas S. Wootton High School saw one 16-year-old student shoot a classmate. That case led to the teenager being charged as an adult.

More recently, a gun discharged during a fight at James Hubert Blake High School in late April ended with two teenagers being charged with a variety of offenses.

A recurring topic among parents of MCPS students is whether the district needs to return to having school resource officers.

MCPS stopped using SROs for the first time in nearly 20 years at the start of the 2021-2022 academic year, opting to use community engagement officers.

The difference between the two positions is that a CEO handles a cluster of schools, whereas SROs were stationed permanently at one campus. The SRO program was axed after officials determined it disproportionately impacted Black and Latino students.

However, as the discussion surrounding the possible return of the SRO program grows, there is one major issue preventing the shift: the police force is experiencing a shortage.

David McBain, who serves as the assistant chief for the Montgomery County Police Department, told school officials at an earlier meeting that the bureau does not have sufficient staffing numbers to monitor each MCPS campus.

A 2022 filing for the program states a total of 26 officers make up the CEO program, 23 of whom are sworn officers.

The other three individuals are pulled from the Rockville City Police Department, Gaithersburg Police Department and one deputy sheriff from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Using AI To Monitor Students

In an effort to make up for security lapses, the school district has turned to VOLT-AI, an artificial intelligence tool that uses existing security cameras to flag any concerning behavior.

The program, which took effect at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Col. Zadok Magruder and Seneca Valley high schools, was touted by MCPS as a "short-term" testing opportunity that would start in March and run for one month.

An MCPS spokesperson told Patch that the pilot was extended until mid-May. No further details were provided.

The school system previously outlined that the piloted program does not:

• Monitor individual student devices, private messages or social media
• Use facial recognition or identify people by name
• Track students from camera to camera
• Record or monitor audio
• Operate in classrooms, restrooms or other private spaces

A decision on whether the program will be permanently implemented in the future has not been made. The district says it will first consider community input and weigh privacy protections before moving forward.