2019 Inaugural Awards Dinner Honors MCPD Leaders, Raises Community Outreach Funds
On October 16, 2019, county business leaders, citizens, and public officials came together at the Montgomery County Police Foundation (the “Foundation” or “MCPF”) honored retired Montgomery County Chief of Police J. Thomas Manger and two Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) leaders, POIII Steven Smugeresky and Commander Marc Yamada.
The Foundation awarded Officer Smugeresky and Commander Yamada training and development scholarships for demonstrating exceptional leadership. The first two in an annual scholarship program, both officers earned the awards through their exemplary commitment to the immediate communities they serve.
Officer Smugeresky is an active full-time veteran Officer, with almost 18 years of dedicated service with the MCPD assigned to the Montgomery County Police Department’s 3rd District, Silver Spring Central Business District-Bike Team. Each year, Officer Smugeresky encounters thousands of Montgomery County residents while patrolling on the bike. On any given day, Officer Smugeresky could be pinning a child’s police badge on the chest of an excited child and proceed to leave that contact to respond to the call for a man with a gun at a nearby gas station, as he did on April 6, 2018. This action resulted in the capture of an armed felon and Officer Smugeresky being awarded the Department’s Commendation Award.
Then Chief Manger asked Commander Yamada to create an MCPD Community Engagement Division to have a division of officers dedicated to actively attend and participate in community functions with residents. They hoped to enhance trust and develop partnerships with community members. Commander Yamada achieved this goal by actively seeking out advice from district community services officers, attending meetings with non-profit organizations, and networking with other police jurisdictions seeking out their "best practices" for community engagement.
Commander Yamada ensured that the Community Engagement Division also included the handling and investigation oversight of all biased motivated incidents and hate crimes.
The awards were initiated in retired Chief Manger's name to commemorate his 15 years running the 1,300-officer force. Manger was a police officer for 42 years and is a well-known leader in the Washington region. Of his service to the county, Manger said he takes great pride in bolstering trust between the department and the community. “We were able to get a fair amount accomplished there,” he said of the trust-building.
If you are interested in joining our sponsors for our next Awards Dinner, please email awardsdinnerMCPF@gmail.com.
Assistant Chief
CAPS/Council for Advocacy and Policy Solutions, In Partnership with David & Mikel Blair
Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rotary Club
Discovery Communications
Hughes Network Systems, An EchoStar Company
Tower Companies
Commander
GardaWorld
Vito Services
Captain
Marvin and Sandra Address
Academy Mortgage Corporation
Axon
EagleBank
Giant Food Corporation
Mark IV Builders and BMC Property Group
Marriott International
The McElroy Family
Chief (ret.) J. Thomas Manger
The Santighian Family
TDI
TNC 32
Lieutenant
AFS 401(k) Retirement Services
Jason Aquino
Bethesda Urban Partnership
Boland Companies
Bold Concepts
Boone & Son Jewelers
Fred and Starr Ezra
Terry Hann
Chuck and Karen Hess
Charles J. (“CJ”) Kemp
Tim Maloney / Joseph Greenwald & Laake PA
Pappas & Sons
Pleasants Companies LLC
Robert A. Pumphrey Funeral Home
Lawrence Rosenblum & Nancy Brooks / Grossberg Company
Terry D. Sherman Ralston and MG David Ralston (ret)
SPS Consulting
Tommy Joe’s
Washington Metropolitan Area New Car Dealers Association
Victims’ Rights Foundation