Upper Marlboro Hosts Regional Law Enforcement Meeting on Recruitment, Technology, Youth Outreach

Prince George’s County Police Chief George Nader told a gathering of regional law-enforcement leaders in Upper Marlboro that violent crime is down 19% and property crime has decreased 15% compared to 2024, numbers he delivered while celebrating what he called the county’s “largest recruit class in a decade.” Nader said the department recorded homicides down 40%, carjackings down 55% and robberies down 48%, and added, “We made recruiting our mission.” He said the recent hiring spree “didn’t happen by chance.”

Law-enforcement leaders from across the Washington region met in Upper Marlboro on Feb. 26 to coordinate on shared public-safety challenges, resource coordination and community outreach initiatives, with coverage of the meeting appearing in a short video segment posted by regional CTV. An Instagram post summarizing the gathering said, “From officer recruitment efforts to new emergency response technology and a possible youth outreach initiative, leaders say collaboration is key.”

Nader announced the latest recruit class totals at the Upper Marlboro gathering: 72 recruits in the newest class, with 55 joining Prince George’s County Police. Melvin Powell, deputy chief administrative officer for public safety, addressed the recruits at the event and told them, “You’ll be part of the public safety family for life.” County Executive Aisha Braveboy attended and stated, “We operate with integrity, that’s something that we have to do.” Sheriff John Carr emphasized local hiring when he said, “We want individuals from our communities to be part of this organization” and “Because we know you have a vested interest in this community.”

Officials discussed technology and youth outreach in broad terms at the meeting. The Instagram summary referenced “new emergency response technology” and “a possible youth outreach initiative,” but participants at the Upper Marlboro session did not provide detailed vendor names, procurement timelines or program structures during the public remarks. That leaves specifics on how new systems or youth programs will be funded, governed or shared across jurisdictions to be clarified by county public safety officials.

The recruitment numbers carry operational implications: 55 new officers joining Prince George’s County Police from a 72-person class represents the department’s largest incoming cohort in a decade, a staffing increase Nader framed as deliberate strategy. Local officials framed recruitment as part of a broader strategy to sustain the year-over-year declines Nader reported and to strengthen cross-jurisdictional coordination across the Washington region.

Residents and community groups seeking a recap of statements from county leaders can view the short regional CTV video segment of the Upper Marlboro meeting for officials’ on-camera remarks and the recruit-class announcement. Officials at the county’s public safety office and the County Executive’s office will be the next points of contact for details on academy schedules, deployment of the 55 new officers and any formal plans for the youth outreach initiative discussed at the Feb. 26 meeting.