For more than three decades, Maxwell C. Uy has served Montgomery County. In 2022, county residents elected Uy as their first Asian American Sheriff, entrusting him to lead the sheriff’s office and prioritize issues such as domestic violence and immigrant safety.
Raised by two immigrants, a Chinese-Filipino father and an Irish mother, Uy grew up in the Bay Area. As a Boy Scout and a Police Explorer, he knew from a young age that he wanted to join the military — a familiar role, given that his father, grandfather and uncles all served.
Uy joined the military immediately after graduating high school, training as an Airborne Ranger. During his military service, Uy learned to rappel from helicopters and airplanes, despite his fear of heights. He was soon recruited to serve in the Old Guard, where he received a top-secret security clearance while working at the Arlington National Cemetery. Uy participated in many ceremonial duties, including rendering honors to fallen soldiers and assisting with other high-profile events. Notably, in 1993, he was assigned to the White House peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Chairman Yasser Arafat.
Uy believes his military experience uniquely prepared him for his career in law enforcement and helped him find his first job.
“In the early ’90s, it was actually difficult to get into law enforcement agencies. Most of the agencies in the D.C. area and across the nation were hiring; however, because of a lot of things going on, there had been a drawdown in the military, and the economy was shifting,” Uy said. “I had veterans’ preference. I applied to a lot of different places, and I was fortunate that the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office hired me.”
Being an Asian American in law enforcement is uncommon. Across the nation, Asian Americans account for just 2% of law enforcement officers. Moreover, Asian Americans often suffer from the false “Model Minority” stereotype that defines them as inherently studious and high-achieving, while less athletic or physically powerful.
Despite this, Uy said he hasn’t faced discrimination during his career, which he attributes to his features and upbringing in the diverse Bay Area.
“I’ve always had that type of drive, and I think that my work performance speaks for itself,” Uy said. “I certainly wasn’t given anything based on any reason other than my ability.”
At the County Sheriff’s Office, Uy has worked in a variety of roles. In the late 1990s, deputies were serving a warrant to a man when he committed a murder-suicide, killing himself and his children. This prompted local police to initiate a crisis negotiation team, similar in function to a hostage negotiator. Uy was one of three deputies initially trained in hostage negotiation, and he served on the conflict negotiation team from 1997 to 2012. Uy was also a sergeant in the domestic violence unit, an academy sergeant, a lieutenant and training coordinator, captain and chief deputy of the sheriff’s office.
While the Sheriff’s Office operates as an extended judicial branch, the police department typically focuses on patrolling. However, Uy said the Sheriff’s deputies work closely with county police officers.
“After 9/11, there was a team of officers and deputies that were trained to deal with potential critical incidents,” Uy said. “Primarily, we worried about terrorism and attacks, and I was part of that team, which has grown significantly. Those are the deputies and officers who responded to the January 6 insurrection.”
In 2022, after 28 years at the Sheriff’s Office, Uy launched his campaign for Montgomery County Sheriff. Running on a platform focused on domestic violence prevention, along with his experience and expertise, Uy defeated his opponent, Robert Bass, by nearly 13 percentage points.
As he took on this new role, the scope of Uy’s job changed significantly. Now, he serves as the department’s public face. While he has the option to patrol alongside frontline deputies, he typically remains in the office and oversees the department’s operations.
“My role is to inform the public on the office and assess our policies and procedures,” Uy said. “So my job as the elected leader of the sheriff’s office is to make sure we’re serving the residents. That’s my primary job.”
As immigration raids persist around the country, citizens have become increasingly concerned about the nature of law enforcement. In Montgomery County, law enforcement doesn’t ask about immigration status, nor do they follow the 287(g) agreements — partnerships between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement agencies — that some other Maryland counties follow.
Uy emphasized that as a figurehead of local law enforcement, he wants immigrant communities to feel safe and supported.
“I never want fear of dealing with local or county authorities to prevent any of our immigrant population from engaging with those services or reporting crime,” Uy said. “I am very aware, as an almost 32-year veteran of law enforcement, that our immigrant population is one of our most vulnerable populations, and they are more likely to be preyed upon and victimized.”
This summer, Uy is running for reelection in the Democratic primary, with immigration being a priority for Montgomery County voters. He is facing fellow Democrat Will Milam, a retired Prince George’s County assistant sheriff. Uy has found himself in controversy after the local Montgomery County workers’ union, MCGEO, issued a vote of no-confidence in his leadership. Milam has capitalized on this criticism, arguing that Montgomery County voters should vote for him because of his accountability.
Uy said these claims are baseless, and voters should judge him based on his track record and performance.
“My first year as Sheriff, we successfully were able to navigate a collective bargaining agreement. I don’t think that if this were some type of toxic environment, you would see that. We also don’t see people leaving, and we’re actually starting to see retention,” Uy said. “I was a member of MCGEO for half my career. I respect their mission, but I will not let my integrity be challenged.”
As policing has evolved, Uy has evolved alongside it. From White House peace talks to the January 6 insurrection, Uy has seen the many sides of the job. A 32-year Sheriff’s Office veteran, Uy says he’s not finished serving Montgomery County just yet.
“It is a challenging profession,” Uy said. “But to do the job, we need to understand that people will make certain mistakes. When you have the hindsight and ability to slow things down and constantly criticize or assess that, people won’t make the perfect decision, but their decision may be the best under the circumstances.”
