Restoring the Ranks Conference – Opening Plenary Panel: Systemic Challenges and Local Solutions – Video Recording
- National Association of Professional Staff in Public Safety
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Like many jurisdictions nationwide, Montgomery County faces persistent challenges in recruiting and retaining law enforcement officers. These workforce pressures cannot be understood in isolation from broader dynamics: shifting public perceptions of policing, heightened expectations for accountability, and the systemic factors shaping the profession today.
This panel will bring together Councilmember Dawn Luedtke, Assistant CAO Earl Stoddard, and Chief Marc Yamada to examine the historical roots of these challenges, the structural drivers of the current workforce crisis, and the county’s efforts to address them. The discussion will emphasize how Montgomery County’s longstanding commitment to reform, transparency, and collaboration across government has positioned it to confront these issues with both candor and innovation.
Restoring the Ranks, a one-day summit focused on actionable solutions to address the law enforcement recruitment and retention crisis. Presented by the National Law Enforcement Museum and the University of Virginia’s Center for Public Safety and Justice – cohosted by the National Association of Professional Staff in Public Safety and multiple other association partners, this conference brought together elected officials, public administrators, and law enforcement professionals for a day of collaborative, expert-led sessions.
Moderator
Zoe Russek-Sobol
Assistant Director, Digital Forensic Center, Chicago Police Department
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Zoe Russek-Sobol
Assistant Director, Digital Forensic Center, Chicago Police Department
Zoe Russek-Sobol is the Chief Program Officer of the National Association of Professional Staff in Public Safety, where she drives strategies, programs, and member services to recognize, empower, and connect the association’s members. An experienced public safety strategist, she has worked at the intersection of policing, technology, and community relations for nearly a decade, leading large-scale initiatives, shaping policy, and building diverse, cross-sector partnerships.
Prior to her current role, Zoe served as a Senior Program Manager at the National Policing Institute, administering the Law Enforcement Knowledge Lab. Funded by a $9 million U.S. Department of Justice award, this initiative advanced constitutional policing and provided tailored technical assistance to agencies nationwide. At Axon Enterprise, she championed equitable public safety technology, leading the company’s Ethics and Equity Advisory Council to new prominence within Axon, and created pathways for continuous dialogue between communities and law enforcement. Her foundational work took shape at the University of Chicago Crime Lab, where she helped develop and pilot the Chicago Police Department’s early intervention system and coordinated large-scale research and technical assistance projects to support officer wellness and innovative crime reduction strategies.
Zoe holds a Master of Arts in Public Policy with Honors from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in the Major in Statistics and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
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Panelists
Dr. Earl Stoddard
Director of the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Marc R. Yamada
Assistant Chief of Police in the Field Services Bureau, Montgomery County Department of Police
Dawn Luedtke
Councilmember representing District 7 of Montgomery County, Md
Dawn Luedtke
Councilmember representing District 7 of Montgomery County, Md
Dawn Luedtke is a first-term Councilmember representing District 7 of Montgomery County, Md. As a member of the Council’s Public Safety and Health and Human Services Committees, Councilmember Luedtke has worked collaboratively with law enforcement to fund and expand innovative tools such as the Drone as First Responder program, enhance and formalize crisis response procedures, and invest in recruitment, retention, and workforce development for police officers and emergency call center operators.
Councilmember Luedtke chairs Montgomery County’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Commission and represents the Council on the County’s Human Trafficking Prevention Committee.
Prior to being elected to the Council in 2022, she was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland, where she served as Counsel to State agencies and offices, including the Maryland Center for School Safety and Active Assailant Interdisciplinary Work Group, which informed her work helping to develop the state’s Model Behavioral Threat Assessment Policy for K-12 Schools.
Dr. Earl Stoddard
Director of the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Dr. Earl Stoddard
Director of the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security
Dr. Earl Stoddard, who has been a key figure during the County’s response to the COVID-19 efforts, has served as the Director of the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security (OEMHS) since January 2016. In this capacity and as the Governor’s appointed Emergency Manager for the County, Dr. Stoddard has overseen the County’s emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery, and prevention programs. This includes leadership of the County Emergency Operations Center and OEMHS field operations. He played a major role in the coordination of the County’s response to numerous events including the January 2016 blizzard, Arliss Street building explosion and fire recovery, 2017 and 2021 Presidential Inaugurations, and the COVID-19 response and recovery.
From 2014 to 2015, Dr. Stoddard previously served as the program administrator for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (PHEPR) within the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). PHEPR maintains the County’s Public Health All Hazards Response Plan, builds the County capability to dispense medical countermeasures, and fosters partnerships with key county stakeholders, including the healthcare infrastructure and long-term care facilities. From 2009 to 2014, Dr. Stoddard worked with the University of Maryland Center of Health and Homeland Security first as a senior policy analyst and later as the program manager for Public Health Preparedness.
Dr. Stoddard earned his Bachelor of Science with a concentration in biotechnology from the University of Delaware in 2002, his doctorate in cell and molecular biology from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008, and his Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2009.
Marc R. Yamada
Assistant Chief of Police in the Field Services Bureau, Montgomery County Department of Police
Marc R. Yamada
Assistant Chief of Police in the Field Services Bureau, Montgomery County Department of Police
With a lifelong dedication to public service, Chief Marc Yamada has carved an illustrious career path marked by leadership, innovation, and community engagement. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing from Frostburg State University, Chief Yamada embarked on a journey that would shape the safety and well-being of Montgomery County and its residents.
Throughout Chief Yamada’s tenure spanning over three decades with the Montgomery County Department of Police, he has exemplified unwavering commitment, rising through the ranks while leaving an indelible mark at each level. As the Assistant Chief of Police in the Field Services Bureau, he orchestrates the department’s strategic initiatives, including the pioneering “Drones as First Responder” Program, reinforcing the department’s efficacy in emergent situations.
Notably, Chief Yamada served as the Police Commander for the 4th District, spearheading comprehensive oversight of patrol operations and supervising a diverse team of sworn and civilian personnel. He earned esteemed recognition, including the Chief J. Thomas Manger Excellence in Leadership Award, attesting to his prowess in fostering collaboration and achieving operational excellence.
In his capacity as the Captain of the Community Engagement Division, Chief Yamada championed inclusivity and cohesion, forging robust partnerships with community organizations such as UNITY, Every Mind, and Fit Fathers. He was instrumental in establishing liaison work groups at local high schools and pioneering the department’s LGBTQ+ liaison group, fostering trust and understanding within diverse communities.
Prior to his command roles, Chief Yamada held pivotal positions, from Lieutenant in the Deputy Director Major Crimes Division to Sergeant in the Policy & Planning Division, where he played a pivotal role in achieving departmental goals and spearheading initiatives such as the development of a new social media policy.
Chief Yamada is a member of the Major Cities Chief’s Association, the Maryland Chief’s Association, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and the International Association Chiefs of Police (IACP). Beyond his professional endeavors, Chief Yamada remains dedicated to mentorship, guiding aspiring officers seeking professional advancement, and contributing to the cultivation of future leaders within the department.
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