History

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a bi-county, local government agency, operates in Prince George's and Montgomery Counties. M-NCPPC was established by an act of the Maryland General Assembly in 1927 to provide long-range planning, and park acquisition and development. In 1931, rules and regulations were written by M-NCPPC to govern conduct in the parks under its control. The Maryland-Capital Park Police was founded by The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (through legislation in 1953) to patrol and police all designated parks in Prince George's and Montgomery Counties, Maryland.

Creation of Park Police Division

In 1954, M-NCPPC created the Park Police Division. It began with three officers working six days a week for an annual salary of $3,000 each. The officers shared one police car until it broke down, at which time M-NCPPC purchased two used cars to replace the initial vehicle. Two divisions were created to serve the two counties; one polices the Prince George's County park system and the other polices the Montgomery County park system. Both divisions are now the second largest police agencies in their respective counties.