UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — Prince George’s County Police Chief George Nader announced a significant drop in both violent and property crime while speaking to the county’s largest police recruit class in a decade, WTOP reported.
Violent crime is down 19%, and property crime has decreased 15% compared to 2024, according to Nader. Homicides have fallen by 40%, carjackings by 55% and robberies by 48%, according to the report.
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Juvenile crime has also seen a decline, with five juvenile homicide victims this year compared to nine in 2024. Nader attributed the decrease to targeted programs addressing truancy and increased accountability for school attendance. He also credited the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services for detaining juveniles considered threats to the community instead of releasing them immediately.
While neighboring Washington, D.C., faces scrutiny over allegedly manipulated crime statistics, Nader emphasized his department’s focus on data integrity. He said crime data is reviewed weekly and used to guide enforcement strategies.
“If we don’t have accurate reporting, it affects our strategies,” Nader said.
County Executive Aisha Braveboy echoed that sentiment.
“We operate with integrity, that’s something that we have to do,” Braveboy said.
In addition to the decline in crime, the department is seeing its strongest recruitment numbers in a decade. Nader said the latest class includes 72 recruits, with 55 joining Prince George’s County Police, according to the report. The department made recruitment a priority amid broader challenges in law enforcement hiring.
Nader said the hiring spree “didn’t happen by chance.”
“We made recruiting our mission,” he said.
Melvin Powell, deputy chief administrative officer for public safety, told recruits they would go on to serve in various roles, from homicide investigations to internal affairs.
“You’ll be part of the public safety family for life,” Powell said.
Sheriff John Carr highlighted the county’s effort to recruit from within the community to strengthen ties between law enforcement and residents.
“We want individuals from our communities to be part of this organization,” Carr said. “Because we know you have a vested interest in this community.”
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