Police Move From Seven Locks To Gaithersburg

Police headquarters for Potomac will soon move from Seven Locks Road to a new location in Gaithersburg.

The 1st District Police Station, which covers Potomac, North Potomac, Darnestown and Rockville, is schedule to move in May to the new Public Safety Headquarters at 100 Edison Park Drive in Gaithersburg. In addition to the 1st District Station, brings Montgomery County Police Headquarters, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services, the office of Homeland Security and parts of the transportation department under one roof in a 408,000 square-foot building.

The transition officially begins in May, but the force won't be operational at the new location until later this summer, said 1st District Commander James Fenner.

“Everything has to be ready for us to walk in the door and go," Fenner said. "We can’t stop going. Our phones have to work, our computers have to be ready, our prisoner processing has to be ready. “

The move will place the 1st District headquarters about six miles northwest of its present location. It actually will fall within the police department's 6th District boundaries, but police say the 1st District should remain consistent.

"The purpose of the move is to save money by consolidating several current police and county facilities and then by selling or ending the lease at the current locations," said Montgomery County Police spokeswoman Angel Cruz. "Coverage in the 1st District should be unaffected, as we strive to provide excellent service regardless of the location of the station."