The Maryland–National Capital Park Police (MNCPP or MDPP) is the law enforcement arm of the Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M‑NCPPC), a bi‑county agency responsible for providing law enforcement services in the park systems and recreation centers in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County, Maryland. The Park Police was established by state legislation in 1954 to provide dedicated policing services for parkland and facilities managed by the Commission. It operates as a full‑service police agency with full law enforcement authority in both counties, possessing the same powers and jurisdiction as the
Prince George’s County and
Montgomery County police departments. The agency routinely provides mutual aid and supplemental support to local, state, and federal law enforcement partners throughout the National Capital Region. Park Police officers have been deployed to assist outside agencies during large-scale events and major civil disturbances, including supporting the
Baltimore Police Department during the
2015 Baltimore protests, presidential inaugurations in Washington, D.C., providing security and law enforcement support for NFL games and large‑scale events held at Northwest Stadium, and for events at the
University of Maryland such as
college football games. The Park Police also routinely work alongside federal law enforcement agencies including the
United States Capitol Police and the
United States Park Police by providing an additional law enforcement presence at major events in Washington D.C. such as
presidential inaugurations and the
Occupy D.C. protests. Officers patrol continuously on a 24‑hour basis using a variety of methods, including marked patrol vehicles, foot patrol, bicycle units, motorcycles, and all‑terrain vehicles, allowing access to remote and wooded areas that are not reachable by traditional police vehicles.
Special Operations In addition to routine patrol functions, the agency maintains a broad range of specialized operational capabilities comparable to other municipal police departments. Its Special Operations Section includes mounted patrol units, with horse‑mounted officers deployed for crowd control, high‑visibility patrol, and major event policing, as well as marine patrol units responsible for lakes, rivers, and other waterways within Commission property. The Park Police additionally maintain an extensive K-9 unit consisting of Bloodhounds, German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, and Labradors. The K-9 unit assists with tracking suspects, searching buildings, open and wooded areas for suspects, searching crime scenes for evidence, apprehending fleeing suspects, narcotic and firearm detection, high-risk arrest and entry situations, search and rescue operations, explosive ordinance detection, and human remains detection.
Investigations and Task Forces The department operates investigative and intelligence functions that conduct follow‑up investigations, plainclothes operations, and criminal intelligence gathering. Detectives investigate crimes occurring on park property and those impacting park users, and coordinate closely with prosecutors and partner agencies. Officers are regularly assigned to multi‑agency task forces, including drug enforcement and gang suppression initiatives, working alongside county, state, and federal agencies such as the
Drug Enforcement Administration. In addition, Park Police officers participate in regional traffic safety and impaired‑driving enforcement units, conducting DUI enforcement campaigns, saturation patrols, and targeted traffic operations in coordination with other law enforcement agencies.
Major Events and Regional Support The agency also maintains a significant role in major event and regional security operations. Park Police officers are periodically deployed through mutual aid agreements to assist with large‑scale events in the National Capital Region, including presidential inauguration operations in Washington, D.C., where they have provided mounted and ground support alongside federal and regional law enforcement partners.
Community Engagement Community policing functions are carried out through dedicated outreach and engagement personnel. The department assigns officers to schools through as
School Resource Officers, known as Community Engagement Officers in Montgomery County, and provide security presence, mentoring, safety education, and direct engagement with youth and community members.
Technology and Equipment The Park Police integrates modern policing technology and specialized equipment into its operations. The agency utilizes drones for locating suspects, search and rescue operations, missing person incidents, and situational awareness in large park environments, along with advanced communications and field response capabilities to coordinate incidents across extensive and often remote areas. ==Governance==