Malik Aziz speaks at a crime meeting in 2019
Deputy Police Chief Malik Aziz, who formerly commanded Dallas’ northeast division at Northwest Highway and Audelia, has been named the new chief for Prince George’s County, Maryland near Washington, D.C. Aziz was introduced Friday at a press conference, where he spoke about the importance of community policing and his plan to build a “respected and appreciated” police force.
“Public service is very important to me,” said Aziz. “I want the citizens and the officers of Prince George’s County to understand what kind of chief I will be. And that is one of communication, high visibility. One who listens and one who will act with resolution.”
Aziz is widely seen as a reformer, and he was invited to the White House by President Obama after he made a presentation to the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing in 2014.
“There is no us-versus-them,” he told the task force. “There’s only us.”
Aziz began as a patrol officer in Dallas in 1992 and rose through the ranks to the position of deputy chief. He led the National Black Police Association for 8 years and was on the short list for Dallas police chief before Eddie Garcia was hired in February.
Aziz will begin his new job May 9 after confirmation by the Prince George’s County Council.
Malik Aziz speaks at Scofield Memorial Church in 2019
