After an exhaustive, nationwide search, Prince George’s County Chief Executive Angela Alsobrooks named Malik Aziz as the county’s next Police Chief. Aziz’s stellar record in law enforcement and his dedication to being a national leader in new ways of policing set him apart in a diverse field of highly competitive candidates. Among the many indicators of his commitment to reimagining public safety is his clear position on how resources might be directed away from policing and toward community investment .
From the Washington Post:
“Aziz served as the national chair of the National Black Police Association and caught the attention of President Barack Obama for his contributions to the task force on 21st century policing in 2015. He advocated for the Justice Department to collect annual demographic statistics from all police agencies to hold them accountable for diversifying their command ranks, according to the task force’s final report…He also vowed to work with police associations, prioritize the safety and wellness of officers and be accessible to the community in Prince George’s.”
A Dallas native, Aziz earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Texas at Arlington and later received an MBA from the University of Dallas. In nearly 30 years with the Dallas Police, he has held many roles, culminating in his most recent position as Deputy Chief. During these three decades, Aziz has worked hard to realize his vision of community partnerships in policing – a fact to which more than one community organizer and advocacy group has attested. With knowledge of Aziz’s work in Dallas Latino communities, Gustavo Torres, executive director of Casa de Maryland, said he is optimistic that Aziz will rebuild trust between the police and the county’s Latino population. He is like a breath of fresh air in Prince George’s,” Torres said.
When asked how he plans to be effective as Police Chief who works for the residents of Prince George’s County Aziz said, “They are going to see me, they are going to hear from me, they are going to know they have a police chief they can call and contact.”
