Rockville City Police Department Names 2025 Officer and Civilian of the Year
March 4, 2026
The Rockville City Police Department has named Neighborhood Services Officer Fred Mowell as its 2025 Civilian of the Year and Officer Chance Thrasher as its 2025 Officer of the Year.
Civilian of the Year: Fred Mowell
With 26 years of service, Fred Mowell has become the de facto leader of RCPD’s Neighborhood Services Division, which focuses on the well-being of animals within the city. His institutional knowledge has helped the program continue through multiple changes in departmental leadership and civilian staff. Fellow NSOs routinely turn to him for guidance.
In 2025, Mowell handled more than 45% of animal-related calls for service received by the department, a remarkable share that reflects both his work ethic and reliability. He also mentored a new NSO secretary, helping her navigate the responsibilities of her role, including coordinating RCPD’s Animal Review Official hearings and managing associated paperwork and prehearing communications with ARO judges.
Beyond call volume, Mowell is takes an educational approach to animal enforcement. He regularly shares information and resources with community members, including details about Rockville’s off-leash program, which he manages. His consistency and high personal standards day-to-day make him a model of civilian service within the department.
Officer of the Year: Officer Chance Thrasher
Officer Chance Thrasher’s 2025 record reflects the kind of proactive policing that strengthens community trust and reduces crime. Among his most notable contributions was his role in the swift apprehension of a suspect connected to a shooting on North Washington Street, an outcome that restored community confidence and supported the pursuit of justice.
Thrasher also served as a key member of the joint Crime Suppression Task Force between RCPD and the Montgomery County Department of Police, a collaborative effort focused on reducing crime in Rockville’s business districts. His enforcement efforts, which include multiple narcotics-relatedarrests, warrant services, and the apprehension of felony and misdemeanor suspects, earned recognition from command staff at both agencies, and he was identified as a leading contributor to the task force’s overall success.
In addition to his enforcement work, Thrasher serves as a field training officer, preparing the department’s newest officers for service. In that role, he instills the principles of proactive policing and leads by example, ensuring trainees develop the skills, tools and mindset necessary to meet RCPD’s high standards.