Katherine Perez is Bowie's first police chief

"I won’t let you down." With those words, Katherine Perez pledged to lead Bowie's new police force, work with the community to reduce crime, and reach out to youth in her new role. In a recent Gazette article, the new chief said, "I want to work with the residents, business leaders and political figures. Only when we work together can we reach our goals."

Chief Perez, a Bowie resident since 2004, brings to her new role experience as a police captain in Connecticut and chief of the District Heights police department. Most recently she has been director of the Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit for the Maryland Attorney General's Office. She was successful and effective in that role, but says she missed police work. With her community-oriented approach to law enforcement, Perez has plans to recruit young officers for Bowie's new police force, and also emphasize youth outreach to reduce crime.

Local officials expressed confidence in their selection. And a friend of Perez, New Carrollton Police Chief David Rice, said, "She’s very community-oriented. I have a feeling everyone who works there will be just as community-oriented as she is. Bowie could not have picked a better person."