The Town of La Plata has appointed Matthew J. Norris as its permanent police chief, effective October 6, 2025. Norris, who has served as acting chief since March 2025, steps into the role after 16 years with the La Plata Police Department. The announcement, made by Mayor Jeannine James, follows a period of transition after the retirement of longtime Chief Carl Schinner.
Norris joined the department in 2009 as a police officer and advanced through the ranks to corporal, sergeant, lieutenant and captain. Most recently, he commanded the Special Operations Division before assuming the acting chief position on March 21, 2025. The La Plata Police Department, which enforces municipal laws within the town’s 5.4 square miles, maintains a staff dedicated to community-oriented policing in a jurisdiction serving about 11,000 residents, according to 2025 population estimates.
“Throughout his time in the Acting Chief role, Chief Norris has demonstrated the steady leadership and dedication that this role requires,” James said. “He brings years of experience and a genuine commitment to serving the people of La Plata. Chief Norris has earned the respect of both his officers and the residents of our community, and I am confident that he will continue to lead with strength and integrity. We are truly fortunate to have such an outstanding leader at the helm of our police department.”
Norris, 38, holds a Master of Science degree in criminal justice from Liberty University, earned in 2024, and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Towson University. He completed the 10-week School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University in 2021, alongside fellow La Plata Sergeant Robert Bagley. His certifications include Level III crash reconstructionist, drug recognition expert and standardized field sobriety tests instructor, vice narcotics supervisor through the Northeast Counterdrug Training Center’s Top Gun XIV program, NCIC site security coordinator and terminal agency coordinator, and graduate of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development program.
He belongs to the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Maryland Municipal League Police Executive Association and FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association. Norris has received multiple department honors, including Officer of the Year in 2021, Officer of the Quarter in 2018 and 2019, Chief’s Awards in 2014 and 2017, Training Officer of the Year and the Looking Beyond the Tag Award in 2016, plus various commendations and unit citations.
Under Norris’s acting leadership, the department has emphasized proactive community engagement. Initiatives include Community Walks, where officers patrol neighborhoods to build rapport with residents; Block Parties, such as the Kent Avenue event that fosters social ties; Replica Handgun Awareness programs to educate on firearm lookalikes; Stuff the Squad Car drives for food donations; Autism Acceptance training for officers; Operation Prevent Porch Piracy to curb package thefts; and the Home Video Mini Grant Program, which subsidizes security cameras for residents and small businesses. These efforts address quality-of-life issues in a town where median household income stands at $137,229 and the poverty rate is 3.51%, per recent data, reflecting a stable suburban community in Charles County.
“It is such an honor to be named La Plata Police Chief and to be able to build upon our strong community policing foundation,” Norris said. “It is my ongoing duty and responsibility to lead the fine men and women on our force, along with our new Town Council, Town Manager, and Town staff, to ensure we are proactive and doing our best together to serve and protect the Town of La Plata.”
Norris succeeds Schinner, who retired on March 23, 2025, after more than 11 years leading the department. Schinner, a veteran officer from the Greenbelt Police Department since 1987, joined La Plata in November 2013 following his captain’s retirement there. During his tenure, Schinner guided the department to national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies in July 2018, with reaccreditation in July 2022 and a next assessment set for 2026. He expanded community programs, including Coffee with a Cop sessions, the 9 p.m. Routine La Plata Style safety checks and the Prevent the Mourning After impaired driving awareness campaign.
Schinner also held statewide roles as president of the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association and vice chair of the Maryland Municipal League-Police Executive Association, while serving as a CALEA assessor. His departure prompted praise from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office for his partnership in regional law enforcement.
Norris’s appointment ensures continuity in these efforts. As acting chief, he navigated the department through routine calls and specialized responses, drawing on his investigative background. His volunteer work as a youth baseball and softball coach in La Plata underscores a personal investment in the town’s families, many of whom attend nearby schools like La Plata High. With the permanent role, Norris plans to sustain accreditation pursuits and expand grants for technology like body cameras, which enhance transparency.
This selection process, led by the mayor and town council, reflects La Plata’s commitment to internal promotions, valuing institutional knowledge over external hires. It follows Schinner’s legacy of professionalization, ensuring the department remains a cornerstone of public safety in Southern Maryland’s heart.
