Editor’s note: This story was originally published at 4:57 p.m on Oct. 21, 2024. It was updated at 9:47 a.m. on Oct. 22, 2024 to include a statement from Monique Ashton.
Rockville City Police Chief Victor V. Brito has resigned from his post, City Manager Jeff Mihelich announced Monday in a news release. Brito’s last day will be Nov. 22.
Brito has led the police department for six years. The news release did not say why he was resigning.
“On behalf of the community and the Mayor and [City] Council, I would like to thank Chief Brito for his service to protecting and serving the City of Rockville,” Mihelich wrote.
A spokesperson for the Rockville City Police referred MoCo360 to the City of Rockville public information office for comment. That office said Monday afternoon it could not comment.
“There is no additional information beyond the news release, as the city does not comment on personnel matters,” city spokesperson Kathy Kirk-Dantzler said in an email.
Mihelich said the city will launch a nationwide search for its next police chief “in the near future.”
“I appreciate the many years of dedicated service, efforts to support community outreach and partnerships, and his work to improve public safety,” Mayor Monique Ashton wrote in an email to MoCo360 Monday night. “We worked together to launch the City’s gun buy-back program, which helped remove nearly 800 guns from our City, including assault rifles and ghost guns.”
According to the city’s website, Brito joined the department in June 2018 following a nationwide search. He had served as police chief in Hagerstown for two years. Before joining the Hagerstown department, he worked for the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., for more than 25 years and retired with the rank of captain.
