Montgomery County Police Assistant Chief Nicholas Augustine is leaving the department to lead the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, The MoCo Show reported Saturday.

Augustine will take command of the statewide agency on Oct. 2, overseeing more than 500 sworn and civilian professionals who patrol Maryland's toll roads, bridges, tunnels, Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and the Port of Baltimore. The MDTA Police is the eighth-largest law enforcement agency in the state, according to the authority.

His departure removes a senior leader from the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD), where he has served since 2002. Before his promotion to assistant chief, Augustine led MCPD's Investigative Services Bureau, overseeing criminal investigations and specialized operations. His career at the department also included patrol, tactical operations and district command.

Augustine joined MCPD after serving as an officer with the Maryland-National Capital Park Police. He holds a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from the University of Maryland University College, a Master of Arts in criminal justice from Arizona State University and a Master of Public Safety from the University of Virginia. He also graduated from the FBI National Academy and Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command.

"The MDTA Police play a critical role in protecting some of our state's most important transportation infrastructure, and I look forward to strengthening our partnerships and building on the strong foundation that has been established," Augustine said in a statement.

Katie Thomson, Maryland's secretary of transportation and chair of the MDTA, called Augustine "the right leader for this moment and for the future of the MDTA Police," according to Fox Baltimore. Bruce Gartner, the MDTA's executive director, said Augustine understands that effective policing requires strong internal leadership and community partnership.

Augustine succeeds Colonel Joseph Scott, who retired this summer after 26 years with the MDTA Police. Lt. Col. Alford served as acting chief during the transition.

The MDTA Police jurisdiction includes the Intercounty Connector, the toll highway connecting Montgomery and Prince George's counties.

MCPD has not announced who will fill Augustine's assistant chief position.