Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González wants the next police chief picked from within the department's own ranks.

Fani-González, who represents District 6, said Monday, Sept. 28, that she sees no reason to look outside Montgomery County for a permanent replacement for Marc Yamada, who resigned Sept. 18. "We're top-notch, and I mean it, in the nation, so why do you need to go somewhere else," she told Fox 5 DC.

Her stance sets up a contrast with County Executive Marc Elrich, who said at a Sept. 24 media briefing that he would not make the appointment himself. Elrich is term-limited. He leaves office in January.

Elrich told Montgomery Community Media that the next executive should play a significant role in a decision they will have to live with, and that he would not try to appoint someone with a new administration arriving in two months.

The council does not choose the chief directly. Under county rules, the county executive nominates a candidate and the council votes to confirm. Fani-González acknowledged that process, saying she expects Acting Chief Darren Francke to lead the department until the next executive sends a name forward.

Yamada had served with the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) since 1988. Elrich nominated him, and the council unanimously confirmed him in June 2024. He resigned after the county's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) found he failed to take required leave on at least five days totaling 40 hours, according to Maryland Matters. The OIG investigation also found Yamada gave false information to investigators about selecting a county-employed relative for an out-of-state work trip.

The leadership vacancy adds pressure to a department already stretched thin. As of Sept. 9, MCPD was dealing with close to 200 officer vacancies and had disbanded its dedicated DUI enforcement unit, Montgomery Community Media reported. With Francke serving as acting chief, one of the department's four assistant chief positions is also vacant, according to Councilmember Dawn Luedtke.

The next county executive will inherit the decision. Democratic candidate Will Jawando said Tuesday, Sept. 29, that he would move quickly to appoint a permanent chief, The Banner reported. He faces Republican Esther Wells in the Nov. 3 general election. The Banner described Jawando as widely expected to win in heavily Democratic Montgomery County.

No timeline has been set for when the next executive will formally begin the search or submit a nomination to the council.