By Adam Pagnucco.
Back in 2021, County Executive Marc Elrich’s Reimagining Public Safety Task Force recommended moving to fully (or expanded) automated traffic enforcement and removing police officers from that work to the extent possible. The idea was echoed in a bill by Council Members Will Jawando and Kristin Mink to limit officer traffic stops.
As evidence of why this might not be such a great idea, consider this news release sent on Monday from the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD).
*****
Auto Crime Enforcement Section Arrests Teen in Stolen Vehicle with Firearm
For Immediate Release: Monday, December 4, 2023
Gaithersburg, MD – A 16-year-old from Gaithersburg has been arrested in possession of a stolen vehicle with a loaded firearm.
On Thursday, November 16, 2023, at approximately 10:30 p.m., detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police- Auto Crime Enforcement Section (ACES) observed a stolen 2023 Honda Accord in the 12100 block of Darnestown Road. After approaching the stolen vehicle, ACES detectives located the 16-year-old in the driver seat with a loaded Taurus 9mm semiautomatic firearm in his pocket. The teen was apprehended without incident.
Further investigation revealed that on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, the car keys to the stolen Honda had been taken during a theft from auto of a 2023 Toyota Camry.
The teen has been transported to the Montgomery County Central Processing Unit and has been charged as an adult with multiple auto theft, firearm, and theft from auto related charges. The teen is currently awaiting extradition to Washington D.C., for robbery charges.
*****
This incident is not isolated. Here are three more arrests following traffic stops that occurred just last month.
November 16: Montgomery Village Man Charged with Illegal Possession of Firearm Following Traffic Stop
November 16: Four Males Arrested in Stolen Porsche; Three Loaded Handguns Recovered
November 15: Montgomery County Police Make Multiple Carjacking and Auto Theft Arrests
In 2021, the county’s Policing Advisory Commission asked MCPD how many guns were seized during traffic stops. MCPD replied:
*****
Montgomery County has seen an increase in the number of firearm-related violent crimes. These crimes include homicide, robbery, aggravated assault, and rape. From January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021, the number of firearm-related violent crimes has increased approximately 57% compared to the same reporting period last year (193 vs 123).
Due to the alarming increase in the number of firearm-related violent crimes occurring in the county, Montgomery County Department of Police Officers have increased their efforts to seize firearms in an attempt to keep the community safe.
- From 2018-2020, there were 144 firearm arrests made as result of traffic stops.
- From January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 the number of firearm arrests from traffic stops has significantly increased from 2020 by over 100% (46 vs 22).
- Even more alarming, the year-to-date number of firearm arrests attributed to traffic stops in 2021 (46), has already exceeded previous pre-pandemic reporting periods in both 2018 (40) and 2019 (32).
*****
That was more than two years ago. Who knows what the numbers have been since? Of course, none of this stopped the policing advisory commission from supporting Jawando’s bill to limit stops.
There will be more data available on this issue when Jawando’s bill is considered by the council’s Public Safety Committee. I have also looked at crimes involving vehicles in the county’s crime database and will release those results soon. In the meantime, the rise in carjackings and proliferation of weapons across the county will keep police officers busy – at least, unless the politicians try to stop them.