Contender For Montgomery Police Chief Job Backs Out

TAKOMA PARK, MD — One of two finalists vying to become Montgomery County's next police chief pulled his name from consideration.

Takoma Park Police Chief Antonio DeVaul took himself out of the running on Wednesday, making Tonya Chapman — the former chief in Portsmouth, Virginia — the last remaining candidate for the position in Maryland's most populous county.

When DeVaul emerged as one of the top candidates, residents in Takoma Park were worried he would leave his job as the city's top cop.

"Over the weekend, the flood of calls and emails I received from residents distraught about me leaving Takoma Park really hit home for me," DeVaul wrote on the City of Takoma Park's Facebook page.

His announcement comes less than a week after the county's acting police chief, Marcus Jones, said he was disappointed to find out he wasn't one of the remaining candidates.

Jones, DeVaul, and Chapman were among 20 under consideration by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. The vacancy was created when longtime Montgomery County Police Chief Thomas Manger retired in April.

As of Wednesday, Chapman is the sole remaining contender.

In February of 2016, Chapman made history when she became the first African American woman appointed to lead Portsmouth's police department. Her tenure as top cop, however only lasted three years.

In March, Chapman resigned as police chief in Portsmouth after years of clashes with other officers and low police morale, according to multiple media outlets.

Whoever Elrich picks to lead the county's 1,300-member police force — whether it's Chapman or someone else — the candidate must be interviewed and confirmed by the council.

Council President Nancy Navarro wrote a letter to Elrich on Thursday, asking him to pick his nominee as soon as possible.

"Earlier this week, you wrote to the County Council sharing your initial intention to appoint a candidate as Chief of the Montgomery County Police Department. In your recent comments to the press, you have identified this candidate without mentioning her name. Also, members of the press have been in touch with me and have mentioned her name," Navarro wrote, according to Montgomery Community Media.

"Regardless, I await receipt of your formal letter confirming this individual as your choice. In the meantime, all councilmembers have your correspondence and will be reviewing it as well as doing their own research on the candidate."

In the letter, Navarro said she wants to schedule an interview with the nominee following the council's month-long recess in August.

"This is a very crucial appointment and councilmembers have shared with me their desire to be methodical and thorough in the discharge of their duty and responsibility in the appointment process," she said.