Marcus Jones will earn almost $250,000 a year as the chief of security and compliance for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), making less than he did as the chief of the county police department but more than his replacement will earn.
Jones was appointed MCPS security chief by the county school board June 25 directly after retiring as the chief of the Montgomery County police department. Jones served as chief from 2019 to 2024 and worked for the department for almost 40 years.
MCPS public information officer Liliana Lopez said Jones will earn $249,322 annually plus benefits—the same pay as other department chiefs, such as the MCPS chief of strategic initiatives and the chief academic officer. Last year, chief-level positions were paid $242,060. Lopez said benefits provided to Jones can’t be released because it is considered personnel information.
Jones’s salary as the head of the MCPS Office of Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management is less than he made as the police chief in 2023, but it is roughly $4,000 more than the new county police chief, Marc Yamada, will be paid annually, according to county documents and published reports. Yamada, a 35-year veteran of the department, was appointed June 18 by the County Council.
According to the documents, when Jones was appointed as county police chief in 2019, he earned a salary of $225,000. In 2023, he earned a base salary of $258,000, according to Montgomery County’s salary database.
Montgomery County Media (MCM) reported that Yamada will be paid $245,000 a year plus benefits.
Jones’s appointment garnered criticism and praise from Montgomery County community members. Some social justice groups have raised concerns that his appointment could lead to an increased police presence in county schools. Other community leaders have been optimistic about his appointment. Jones has said that he planned to clarify the role of police officers in schools.
According to a job description on the MCPS website, Jones will report to MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor and will lead “the school district’s efforts to ensure student and staff safety by designing, implementing and championing the strategic safety plan.” He will oversee multiple units such as school safety and emergency planning and will serve as the primary liaison to public safety agencies.
There are 42 employees in the Office of Systemwide Safety and Emergency Management, according to the MCPS website.