The La Plata Police Department has named its Officers of the Quarter for the first two quarters of 2026, recognizing two officers for work ranging from a child-endangerment investigation to a mental health crisis intervention and a narcotics arrest.
First Quarter: Pfc. Jacob Bladen
Patrolman First Class Jacob Bladen was selected by patrol supervisors and command staff as the department’s Officer of the Quarter for the first three months of 2026. The department credited Bladen’s work during that period with helping remove a sexual predator who had been targeting juveniles from the community, taking illicit narcotics off local roadways, and removing an armed individual described as a threat to public safety.
On Feb. 25, 2026, officers had received information about a possible meeting between a sexual predator and a juvenile male. Based on that tip, Bladen led an operation to surveil and apprehend the suspected offender. Officers took the suspect into custody, then carried out interviews and investigative search warrants on his vehicle and electronic devices. The department said it worked with out-of-state law enforcement agencies to gather additional evidence, with charges pursued both locally and in another jurisdiction.
The following week, during the week of March 3, Bladen stopped a vehicle and determined the driver was using a false name and had active warrants. During the stop, Bladen found crack cocaine, cocaine, and more than $1,000 in cash — evidence the department said pointed to possession with intent to distribute. The next evening, Bladen assisted in a stabbing investigation at a local motel, helping locate the suspect hiding in a residential shed on a citizen’s property.
Second Quarter: Cpl. Brendan Smith
Corporal Brendan Smith was named the department’s Officer of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2026 after receiving multiple letters of commendation, relayed both through department supervisors and directly from citizens.
On May 17, Smith responded to a death investigation that, unknown to him at the time, involved a family member of a Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office employee. That employee later told the department Smith remained professional and calm while helping the grieving family navigate next steps.
Less than two weeks later, on May 29, Smith responded to a call involving a juvenile girl who was hanging outside a second-story window during a mental health crisis. The department said Smith quickly assessed the situation, determined the girl’s condition required immediate action, and devised a plan to reach her through the interior of the house. He pulled her back inside, ending the incident and connecting her with mental health resources.
On June 8, Smith responded to a report of a young child found outside a residence without adult supervision. Because it was overnight and the child’s family members were asleep and unaware the child had left, Smith worked to locate the home the child had wandered from and reunited the child with the mother. The mother later wrote to the police department to commend how Smith handled the call.
The La Plata Police Department did not provide additional details, such as case or charge numbers, for the incidents described.
