Montgomery County is once again debating the role of police in public schools after a Feb. 9 shooting at Thomas S. Wootton High School thrust longstanding tensions over campus safety back into the spotlight. In the aftermath, State’s Attorney John McCarthy called the 2021 removal of School Resource Officers a “terrible mistake,” urging leaders to restore full‑time, on‑site officers, while Superintendent Thomas W. Taylor has ordered a broad review of safety practices without endorsing a return to the prior model. [1][2]
The county’s SRO program grew steadily in the early 2000s, seeded by federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants following the Columbine shooting. By the 2003–2004 school year, Montgomery County Police had deployed approximately 32 officers across middle and high schools through the Educational Facilities Officers (EFO) program, laying the groundwork for a visible police presence in school buildings. [3]
The model evolved into the modern SRO program, and by 2020, MCPD reported 23 sworn county officers, plus one each from Rockville and Gaithersburg police and a deputy from the sheriff’s office—26 officers assigned primarily to the county’s 25 high schools and one alternative school, with additional coverage as available for middle and elementary campuses.
Supporters of the former program say full‑time officers forged relationships, mediated conflicts, and could respond within seconds to critical incidents on campus. [1] Critics, however, point to arrest statistics and disciplinary outcomes that disproportionately affected Black and Latino students, arguing that police stationed inside schools contributed to criminalizing student behavior and widening inequities. Those competing narratives—safety through proximity versus harm through over‑policing—framed the county’s political fight in 2020 and 2021, when councilmembers introduced legislation to remove SROs, and the County Executive advanced a budget that ultimately pulled officers out of buildings. [4][5]
Beginning in the 2021–2022 school year, MCPS replaced SROs with the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) program, a cluster‑based model intended to satisfy Maryland’s mandate for “adequate law enforcement coverage” while shifting the daily policing footprint away from hallways. [6] Under a 2022 Memorandum of Understanding among MCPS, MCPD, municipal police agencies, and the State’s Attorney’s Office, CEOs are sworn officers with specialized training in crisis management and community policing; they cover a high school and its feeder middle and elementary schools, respond to serious incidents, liaise with principals, and may maintain office space on campus—yet they are not permanently stationed inside schools and do not handle routine student discipline. [7][8]
The county’s security leadership acknowledges the transition has been uneven. Marcus Jones—formerly MCPD chief and now MCPS’s chief of security and compliance—said in 2024 there was “confusion” and “angst” about CEO roles, adding that officers should not be afraid to enter buildings when appropriate, even though their role differs from that of SROs who once patrolled halls daily. [9] Community advocates and policing advisors have similarly flagged uncertainty over which version of the CEO MOU governs day‑to‑day operations and how the arrangement is applied across schools. [10]
McCarthy’s calls to restore SROs intensified after the Wootton incident, which injured a 16‑year‑old student and led to an attempted murder charge against another student. He argues the absence of an on‑site officer can slow the initial response and remove a trusted figure who knows the campus and its students, noting that Montgomery County has experienced two school shootings since SROs were removed. [1] Parents and some councilmembers—among them Dawn Luedtke—have echoed his sentiment, saying timely intervention often hinges on proximity and relationships built by officers embedded in schools. [11]
Superintendent Taylor has taken a measured tack. In public remarks after the shooting, he said “everything’s on the table,” including potential changes to policing in schools, while emphasizing a holistic safety plan that spans protocols, partnerships and technology. [2] MCPS plans to pilot weapons detection systems at three schools beginning in March, part of a broader discussion of AI‑assisted tools to identify contraband before it enters buildings—an approach Taylor and county leaders say must complement, not replace, strong human systems. [2]
For many residents, the heart of the matter remains whether CEOs can match SROs’ immediacy without reproducing inequities tied to in‑school policing. The 2022 MOU delineates “critical incidents” that require CEO involvement—such as death, rape, gang‑related activity or drug distribution. The MOU outlines expectations for minimizing disruption during investigations and also reinforces that most student misconduct should be handled through school‑based strategies. [7] That stance continues to divide stakeholders who either want a visible officer in every building versus those who seek to keep disciplinary authority firmly within educational and mental‑health teams. [8]
As of early March, county leaders have not publicly introduced legislation to reinstate the SRO program, even as pressure mounts for clarity on next steps. [2] Public meetings and hearings are expected to feature testimony from parents, educators, law enforcement officials, and students. [3][7]
Whether Montgomery County ultimately restores SROs or refines the CEO framework, the decision will test the district’s ability to balance urgent safety concerns with equity and student well‑being. Taylor has promised an evidence‑based review; McCarthy wants officers back inside buildings. Between those poles lies a community seeking both security and trust—without repeating the mistakes of the past. [2][1]
References
[1] Will Montgomery County also end the use of school resource officers …
[2] Formal Solicitations, Montgomery County Office of Procurement …
[3] What role should police officers play in schools? Wootton High shooting …
[4] UPDATE: MCPS signs memorandum establishing updated CEO Program
[5] Microsoft Word – SRO faq sheet 11-18-20.docx – Montgomery County Maryland
[6] Montgomery Co. school security scrutinized after Wootton … – WTOP
[8] MCPS Policies & Regulations – Montgomery County Public Schools …
[9] After Wootton, Montgomery County Must Restore — and Strengthen — Its …
[10] Replacing School Resource Officers with Community Engagement Officers …
[11] School resource officer positions cut from latest Montgomery Co. budget …
Walt Houser 