Official statements from police departments or local government reports

Multiple Washington, D.C. Area Police Departments Decline to Assist MPD, Leaving Hundreds Fewer Officers for Trump's 2025 Inauguration

Jan 17, 2025, 08:57 PM

More than half a dozen local police departments in the Washington, D.C. area, including Montgomery County, Howard County, and Queen Anne’s County, have confirmed they will not assist the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) with security for the 2025 Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump. The decision by these departments could result in hundreds fewer officers available for the event. The Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland cited issues with the current memorandum of understanding (MOU) as the reason for not assisting MPD. Other departments, including Howard and Queen Anne’s County police, also declined to participate, with Queen Anne’s citing 'technical difficulties.' Meanwhile, Maryland State Police and the police departments in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel County stated they would assist the Capitol Police but not communicate with MPD for the inauguration. Some departments, such as Frederick City, MD, and Loudoun County in Virginia, have agreed to send officers. The MPD has emphasized its commitment to working with local, state, and federal partners to ensure safety and security during the event, while also highlighting its use-of-force policy which categorizes threats into passive resister, active resister, threatening assailant, and active assailant, and emphasizes the importance of upholding First Amendment rights.