Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Council President Kate Stewart Celebrate Grand Opening of 6th District Police Station in Gaithersburg
For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 5, 2025
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Kate Stewart, other Councilmembers, and State and local officials joined together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of the 6th District Police Station on June 2. The new Montgomery County Department of Police (MCPD) station replaces an outdated facility with a new, sustainably designed, energy-efficient building. It is located at 222 Paramount Park Drive in Gaithersburg and serves the Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village communities.
“The new 6th District Police Station is an important project for the County that will strengthen critical emergency services to our residents in an area that has seen tremendous growth,” said County Executive Elrich. “The Gaithersburg area has seen a great deal of development over the years, and as the community changes, the demand changes. We recognized the importance of adapting to the needs of a growing community, and this station is a testament to our ability to meet those needs. The new station will help to improve the safety and security of residents and businesses and address our current and future needs for the decades to come.”
Located near the northeast intersection of I-270 and Watkins Mill Road, less than a mile from the previous police station, the new police station is designed to accommodate up to 178 department staff and volunteers. It will serve as the base for investigative units and the Central Traffic Unit, which was established in July 2021. The station also features a public space designed to foster engagement, collaboration and dialogue within the community.
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“It is an honor to take part in the ribbon cutting of the 6th District Police Station, which has been 20 years in the making. This station will provide the Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village communities, and our dedicated officers, with a fully equipped, state-of-the-art police station. In addition, the station will house a public community room and is the County’s first public net-zero, sustainably designed, energy-efficient building,” said Council President Kate Stewart. “This station is about making investments in public safety, our community, and sustainability for Montgomery County today and into the future.”
The new, state-of-the-art station will enable emergency responders to better serve the community, in addition to its many environmentally friendly and health and safety features that contribute to carbon-free goals targeted by the County.
“This has been a long and carefully planned process, and we’re grateful to everyone who played a role in bringing it across the finish line,” said MCPD Assistant Chief Darren Francke. “This station is more than just bricks and mortar — it represents progress, collaboration and a deep commitment to serving our community. The Sixth District covers a large and growing portion of Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village. As the population increases and the area develops, our presence here affirms what we’ve always said: the safety of our residents, visitors and stakeholders is a top priority.”
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The 6th District Police Station is the first public safety NetZero facility in Maryland and one of the first public safety NetZero facilities on the east coast. The project is designed to achieve NetZero energy performance by utilizing a solar array that converts sunlight into electricity via photovoltaic power generation. The building systems are fully electrified in keeping with Montgomery County’s carbon-neutral goals. The building was designed and will be delivered under the International Green Construction Code (IgCC 2018) requirements.
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Constructed atop the parking structure and covering an area of nearly one acre, the blended microgrid system consists of a 360 kW Solar array. It is projected to produce 584,000 kWh of electricity per year, producing more electricity than the site uses each year. In addition, the microgrid includes a 500 kW Cummins Emergency Natural Gas Generator to provide support to the solar array, providing minimum of 168 hours of continuous power in the event of a major grid outage.
The Micro Grid project was built via partnership with the Montgomery County Department of General Services’ Division of Energy and Sustainability, in partnership with GreenStruxture.
Photos taken at the ribbon-cutting ceremony are available on the County’s Flickr page.
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Release ID: 25-240
Media Contact: Mark Roper 240-962-1743
Categories: Public Safety
For updates and link to press release, see here: http://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcgportalapps/Press_Detail.aspx?Item_ID=47164