Montgomery County Council President Natali Fani-González wants the next police chief picked from inside the department, not through a nationwide search.

"We're top-notch, and I mean it, in the nation, so why do you need to go somewhere else," Fani-González told Fox 5 on Monday, Sept. 28.

Her stance sets up a potential disagreement over how to fill the job. County Executive Marc Elrich said Sept. 23 that he would not appoint a permanent chief himself, leaving the decision to whoever wins the Nov. 3 election. Elrich's term ends in December.

The department has been led by Acting Chief Darren Francke since Sept. 18, when Marc Yamada resigned at Elrich's request.

An Office of the Inspector General investigation found Yamada failed to record leave on at least five days totaling 40 hours between July 2024 and July 2026. Investigators also found he made a false statement about his role in selecting a county-employed relative to attend an out-of-state work conference, according to MoCoShow.

Fani-González praised Francke's appointment and expressed confidence in the department's talent. Francke has spent his entire career with the Montgomery County Police Department and served as assistant chief for five years before stepping into the acting role, WJLA reported.

At a Sept. 23 briefing, Elrich said the county can promote from within "90% of the time … because of the strength of the people who come up through the department," according to Bethesda Magazine.

Under county procedure, the county executive nominates a police chief candidate. The council then interviews and votes on the nomination. Police spokesperson Shiera Goff said the timeline depends on the approach: an internal appointment could be quick, while a nationwide search could take months.

The Democratic nominee for county executive, Councilmember Will Jawando, said he would move quickly to appoint a new chief if elected, according to The Banner. His Republican opponent is Esther Wells.

The department employs about 1,300 sworn officers and 650 support staff. No formal timeline, search committee or council resolution has been announced.