MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) – Montgomery County Sheriff Marc Yamada was forced to retire immediately after the county inspector general found that an agency executive skipped work without taking leave and lied to investigators about choosing a family member for a work conference. The findings were released hours after sources told 7News that Yamada cleaned out his office on Friday morning. Those sources also confirmed to 7News that the chief had been under investigation for alleged misuse of county funds, related to trips to Las Vegas. The inspector general’s report does not name the executive under investigation, but sources confirmed that these findings refer to Yamada. SEE ALSO | Three teens now face charges for armed robbery inside Northwest High bathroom The investigation began after complaints to the Office of Inspector General hotline, according to Inspector General Megan Davey Limarzi. Investigators say they found that the executive did not register any leave between July 2024 and July 2026 despite several absences. They confirmed at least five days, totaling 40 hours, in which the executive was not available to work without taking leave or adjusting his schedule. That included attending a golf tournament where the executive consumed alcohol, the office said. Although the executive’s position is exempt from county personnel regulations, the absences violated police department policy, investigators found. READ INVESTIGATION MEMORANDUM BELOWPublicSynopsis_Investigation_Alleged_Misconduct_MCPD_ExecutivePDF previewPDF PreviewView PDFThe investigation also found that the executive chose a family member who works for the county to attend a work-related conference with them, then lied to investigators when he denied involvement in that decision. The inspector general said providing false information during the investigation violated county code. Sources told 7News that Yamada brought his son, also a Montgomery County police officer, to that conference, which was in Las Vegas. Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund President Jason Johnson is a retired major from the Prince George’s County Police Department and former deputy commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department. He told 7News that revelations like this hurt officers patrolling the streets, who had nothing to do with the misconduct, when trying to gain the public’s trust. “To be sure, leadership changes are not big, especially abrupt ones, especially those that are made somewhat under a cloud,” Johnson said. “The rank and file police officers are the ones who have to pay the price when trust is eroded due to the way they are treated in their daily duties and in their interaction with the public. As a police officer, you want the public to trust in your daily interactions. When that is in question or has been eroded, it makes your job much more difficult. Very frustrating and disappointing for the rank and file officers.” Separately, investigators determined that the executive ordered a county vehicle to be given to an employee of the County Attorney’s Office without setting appropriate limits on its use. The vehicle was later used for personal business and travel without the required approval, according to the findings. The review also cited inconsistent supervisory checks of police department time cards and confusion among executives and managers about when leave is required for unofficial events during the workday. The report included five recommendations for improvement. The inspector general’s announcement did not detail those recommendations. With Yamada now out, Deputy Chief Darren Francke has been tapped to take over on an interim basis, until a permanent chief is named. “The grassroots can suffer from whiplash because they are following instructions and police chiefs have a considerable impact on the direction of an organization. They are the ones who really set the agenda, set the goals of the organization. They ultimately direct policy,” Johnson said. “When you move from one police chief to another, it can really take the organization in a different direction. The grassroots, in general, wherever the direction has been set, are working toward it. So when that changes, that can have a real impact.” WJLA The county’s chief administrative officer received a confidential version of the full investigative memo on Thursday, Sept. 17, and assured the inspector general that appropriate action would be taken. Resignation, ahead of release of IG report: Today I accepted the resignation of Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) Chief Marc Yamada. We thank you for nearly four decades of service to MCPD and our residents. This resignation is effective immediately and I have selected Deputy Chief Darren Francke to serve as interim police chief until a permanent chief is named. Following the release of the IG report, Elrich issued a second statement on the matter: “Today I requested the resignation of Montgomery County Police Department Chief Marc Yamada. We thank Chief Yamada for nearly four decades of service to MCPD and the residents of Montgomery County. My decision followed the findings of an investigation by the Office of the Inspector General that was just made public. The investigation substantiated violations of the County’s and MCPD’s expectations regarding time away from work, without taking appropriate leave. or adjust their schedule as required by MCPD policy. More troubling to me were the findings regarding the accuracy of the Chief’s statements to the IG during the investigation. Trust and integrity are critical to public service, particularly for those entrusted with leading our police department. We take the Inspector General’s findings seriously and. “We will implement the recommendations contained in the report. We will also ensure that our policies are clear, followed and applied consistently throughout county government. “The police department also issued a statement regarding the leadership change. “During this leadership transition, the department will continue its daily operations and remain focused on serving Montgomery County. We also remain committed to transparency, accountability and maintaining the public’s trust as we move forward.” Montgomery County Councilman Will Jawando also issued a statement, saying he was deeply disappointed by the IG report. “I have reviewed the September 18 Investigative Memorandum from the Office of the Inspector General and am deeply disappointed by its conclusions regarding the misconduct of an MCPD executive. The Montgomery County Police Department has been entrusted with the critical responsibility of ensuring the public safety of our community. That mission carries extraordinary authority and responsibility. Those who lead the department must exercise that authority with the highest levels of integrity, accountability and good judgment. The Inspector General found that the MCPD executive described in the report violated both the County Code and MCPD policy. The executive was absent from duty for at least five days without taking leave or adjusting his schedule and was not candid with investigators about his role in selecting a County employee relative to attend an out-of-state conference. My expectations for public servants in Montgomery County are high, and they are even higher for those entrusted with leadership positions. I thank the Office of the Inspector General for their thorough work in bringing this matter to light and I intend to improve. review those recommendations closely and work to ensure that necessary safeguards are strengthened in the future. The conduct described in this report must not be allowed to impact the women and men of MCPD who serve our community every day and who themselves deserve leadership that meets those same standards. I will do everything I can in my role to support the department and our community during this transition.
