Detective Sergeant David Roys of the La Plata Police Department received the International Association of Chiefs of Police 40 Under 40 award during a breakfast ceremony Tuesday, October 22, 2025, at the IACP annual conference in Denver. La Plata Police Chief Carl Norris, who nominated Roys earlier in the year, attended the event alongside the honoree to celebrate the recognition of his leadership and service.
The 40 Under 40 program annually selects 40 law enforcement professionals under age 40 from agencies worldwide for their innovative contributions and commitment to the field. Nominees undergo a rigorous review process, including evaluations of professional achievements, community impact and potential for future influence. Roys, 39, emerged as one of the 2025 recipients from a global pool, highlighting his role in advancing investigative practices and officer training at the 15-officer La Plata department.
Roys joined the La Plata Police Department in August 2019 as a detective sergeant, overseeing investigations into property crimes, narcotics and violent offenses in the Charles County town of 10,384 residents. His tenure includes leading multi-agency task forces on auto theft rings, a focus detailed in a September 2025 Police Chief Magazine article on transnational vehicle crimes. Prior roles shaped his expertise: He served as a police officer at the University of Maryland Baltimore County starting in May 2018 and earlier as a detective and master deputy with the Charles County Sheriff’s Office, where he specialized in crimes against children. There, Roys completed the Gunderson Child First training, a certification equipping officers to handle child abuse cases with trauma-informed techniques.
This award builds on Roys’ record of commendations. In September 2021, the department named him Officer of the Year for his investigative acumen, including a high-profile pursuit in April 2020 that recovered stolen vehicles and led to multiple arrests. That October, the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association presented him an Exceptional Police Performance Award for the same incident.
Roys has pursued advanced education to bolster departmental capabilities. In September 2024, he graduated from the Maryland Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs’ Associations Aspiring Leaders Program alongside Sergeant John Piersa, a 10-month course on executive skills and policy development. Earlier, in May 2025, he completed the 29th Annual Greater Chesapeake Law Enforcement Executive Development School, a Federal Bureau of Investigation program emphasizing leadership, media relations and complex investigations. Most recently, in November 2024, Roys co-facilitated mental health response training for local officers, partnering with the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center to integrate crisis intervention protocols.
The La Plata Police Department, established in 1888, operates from a station at 205 Edmonston Road and responds to roughly 5,000 calls annually in a jurisdiction blending historic downtown shops with residential neighborhoods near the Port Tobacco River. With a focus on community policing, the agency maintains low violent crime rates — 1.2 incidents per 1,000 residents in 2024, per Uniform Crime Reporting data — through initiatives like neighborhood watches and school resource officers at La Plata High School. Roys’ mentorship of newer recruits aligns with these efforts, fostering a culture of integrity amid staffing challenges common to small-town forces.
The IACP, founded in 1893, represents more than 31,000 police leaders from 165 countries and hosts its annual summit to address trends like technology integration and officer wellness. The 40 Under 40 initiative, launched in 2018, aims to spotlight emerging talent; past honorees have advanced to roles in federal task forces and policy advisory boards. For 2025, selections spanned from U.S. postal inspectors to superintendents in Pakistan, underscoring the program’s global scope.
Roys’ profile on the IACP site describes his approach as “purpose-driven policing,” rooted in 12 years of service that prioritize victim support and interagency collaboration. Department officials noted the nomination stemmed from his consistent performance, including contributions to regional auto theft reductions that recovered vehicles valued at over $500,000 since 2023.
As the IACP conference continues through October 25, 2025, Roys joins other awardees in sessions on emerging threats, from cybercrimes to border security. His selection positions the La Plata force among elite peers, potentially informing future training grants for the department’s eight detectives.
The achievement underscores a pathway for mid-career officers in rural jurisdictions, where resources limit formal advancement. Roys, a Waldorf native, credits early mentors in the sheriff’s office for his trajectory, a sentiment echoed in his 2021 Officer of the Year profile.
La Plata Police urge residents to follow updates via their station line at 301-934-8975 or online portal for non-emergencies. The department’s commitment to professional growth, exemplified by Roys, aligns with Maryland’s 2022 Police Accountability Act, which mandates ongoing certification for ranks above sergeant.