Published on: Thursday, February 02, 2012

By Daryl Buchanan

The Rockville Police Department has 57 sworn officers in a city of 62,000. Police Chief Terry Treschuk and the department he leads are looking to have a successful year through work with the community and City Hall.

Chief Treschuk considers Rockville to be a complex city with many different facets that can provide a lot of challenges for local police. Rockville being in close proximity to the nation’s capital, major transportation routes pass directly through the city, and it is the county seat. 

Going into 2012 Chief Treschuk says he is expecting tremendous changes in 2012, but he is confident the Rockville Police Department will adapt to the changes.

“When I first came here Rockville was more of a suburban city. It has become a true city though. It has experienced a lot of growth and it is a lot more active. One area that we are adjusting to is the continued rise of mixed use developments,” said Treschuk.

Another issue that Chief Treschuk says is a continuing challenge is one many Rockville residents might be able to relate to. Traffic spillover into neighborhood streets has become an issue with no clear solution, but managing the problems has become a major task.

“I-270, Rockville Pike, and Veirs Mill Road all pass through Rockville. When one or all of these roads become congested drivers begin moving into neighborhood streets. That’s where the danger comes in because we’ve got kids waiting for buses and cars flying through neighborhoods,” said Treschuk. “So it’s a potentially dangerous combination and we will be looking to make neighborhood roads safer.”

“The hardest part is trying to keep our good officers in the department. When you have good officers you don’t want to let them get away to another department. We also must adapt to changes in technology and try to adopt them quickly,” said Treschuk. 

Despite the difficulties the Rockville Police Department has seen a decrease in part 1 and part 2 crimes. Part 1 crimes are crimes against people or property such as arson, auto theft, homicide, and burglary. Part 2 crimes are offenses such as disorderly conduct, minor theft, and shop lifting.

Chief Treschuk says the ability to maintain an effective police department comes from a healthy relationship with the Mayor and Council, the community, and other area agencies. The close relationship and communication with citizens is especially helpful in maintaining safety.

“We always want to remain committed to the community. A lot of what goes into making Rockville safe starts with them. We do a lot of community outreach and security education for homes and businesses. The trust we have each other is really important. It’s all about working hand in hand together,” said Treschuk.

“Having the support of the Mayor and City Council is always vital. I’m happy that we have always had their support. It makes doing our job a lot easier when we can work closely and get things done.”

Rockville Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio confirmed the healthy relationship the police department has with the city leaders.

“The Rockville police do such a great job making this city safe. They do a really excellent job of staying involved in the community and assisting citizens in so many areas,” said Marcuccio. It also helps a lot that we have such remarkable police chief. I can’t begin to tell you how fortunate we are to have a good police department.”

However, Chief Treschuk says he is most proud of the staff he has working under him that continues diligent work through in a tough environment. “I’m really proud of all the men and women who work hard in a challenging environment and continue to do such a good 

job. They are outstanding,” said Treschuk. 

After seeing a decrease in crime the Rockville Police Department will have a brand new police station to move into in about five months. Chief Treschuk says the new police station will give the police department to be even more effective in some areas.

“We are really excited about our new station. We will have interview rooms, evidence rooms, waiting areas, and locker spaces for our officers. It will be a more complete station that will be a one stop location for the public,” said Treschuk.

Chief Treschuk is confident the future is bright for Rockville and says the relationship between the community and the police force will remain strong.