Marc Yamada is set to be named police chief in Montgomery County

GAITHERSBURG, Md. – A 35-year veteran of the Montgomery County Police Department is set to be named police chief Wednesday.

County Executive Marc Elrich is expected to announce his appointment as Deputy Chief Marc Yamada at a news conference in Gaithersburg.

If confirmed by the county council, Yamada will assume the role following the resignation of current Police Chief Marcus Jones, whose last day is July 1. He will also be the first-ever Japanese American to serve as police chief in the district.

During his time with the Montgomery County Police Department, Yamada led the Field Services Bureau and served as commander of the Fourth District (Wheaton area), captain of the Community Engagement Division and duty commander, among other positions.

This isn’t the first time Yamada has made headlines. In 2021, WUSA9 reported that Yamada was having a late dinner with his wife and daughter when a restaurant worker cleaning a nearby table suddenly collapsed and he intervened.

“From the way she was holding her hands, I could tell she was having a seizure. Because of the training we receive, I knew to try to protect her head,” Yamada said.

Medical staff said the worker, identified as Vanessa Lopez, was having what is known as a grand mal seizure when Yamada tried to help her.

“I was just trying to calm her down and encourage her. I kept telling her, ‘It’s okay, I’m here with you.’ I just wanted to comfort her and make sure she was lying on the ground well so she didn’t suffocate or anything like that,” Yamada said.

Lopez had a severe seizure for about a minute and at one point stopped breathing, according to Yamada. She turned purple and then Yamada started patting her back to get her breathing again.

“When I did that four or five times, she suddenly gasped and started gurgling a little and then came to,” Yamada said.

Lopez was eventually loaded into an ambulance and taken to an area hospital for treatment. She said this was the first time something like this had happened to her.

RELATED: Ordering dessert helped Montgomery Co. deputy police chief save restaurant employee

RELATED: Montgomery Co. Police Chief Marcus Jones announces his resignation

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