Leadership Announcement

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 10:28:25 -0400
president

Dear UMBC Community,

I am delighted to share the news that David M. Fields, who has been serving since late January as acting chief of police at UMBC, has been named to the permanent role. He assumes the leadership of the department following the retirement this spring of former chief Bruce Perry.

Prior to joining the UMBC community, Chief Fields spent 17 years as a sworn police officer at the University of Maryland, College Park. In 2014, he became the lead firearms instructor in the Training Division Fire Academy, which began a longtime role for Chief Fields in the training of officers and community members in emergency response. At College Park, he created and led the first Tactical Response Unit for the department, and he served as assistant training director of the Training Division before being promoted to captain and then patrol commander of the university’s police department.

In addition to his service as an officer, Chief Fields has spent more than a decade as an adjunct instructor with the Prince George’s County Municipal Academy providing firearms training and qualification to retired law enforcement officers under the Law Enforcement Safety Act, as well as instruction in patrol tactics for veteran and entry-level officers. Since 2016, he has served also as an adjunct instructor with Intelligence Consulting Partners, a firm that provides threat assessment, interactive training, and policy solutions for private and public agencies and organizations across the United States.

Chief Fields studied criminal justice at Bowie State University and University of Maryland University College (now University of Maryland Global Campus). He has provided us with exemplary leadership from the moment he joined UMBC. His expertise, integrity, and commitment to ensuring the safety of every member of the community are evident in everything he does, as is his dedication to the support and development of the sworn officers and staff members who comprise the department.

I am delighted that he has agreed to take on the permanent role of police chief for UMBC. I am grateful, as well, that Lieutenant Ed McDermott, who joined the department with Chief Fields in an acting capacity in January, will now assume a permanent role in the department. Having served previously as executive officer to the chief of the University of Maryland Police Department, Lt. McDermott will serve as chief of staff to Chief Fields at UMBC.

I know that many members of our community have had the opportunity to meet and/or work closely with Chief Fields and Lt. McDermott over the last few months and that those who have will share my enthusiasm about this terrific news. Welcome—once more—to Chief Fields and Lt. McDermott!

Sincerely,

President Valerie Sheares Ashby