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Maj. Craig Howard, recently named the new commander of Prince George's County police District 5, said his top priority for managing the county's largest police district is building on existing partnerships with community members and bringing the new developments springing up around south county into the fold.

Howard, a 20-year veteran of the Prince George's County Police Department, was promoted Jan. 24 after serving as the district's second-in-command since 2007. He has served as acting major since former district commander Maj. David Morris left Dec. 10 to be commander of the county police academy's training division.

"I'm excited, I'm ready to hit the ground running," Howard said.

A native of Atlanta, Howard joined that city's police force in 1987. He moved to Prince George's County in 1989 to take a job with District 2 in Bowie, where he served as a patrol cop.

After spending years in the robbery, homicide and internal affairs divisions, he landed in District 5 in 2003. He worked his way up through the ranks in District 5 — which also became his home — becoming a captain and the district's assistant commander in 2007.

"The thing that stood out to me is the relationship the police have with the community, it's unique," he said, citing the many local residents who volunteer to help police and the high participation in community walks, neighborhood watch programs and other events.

Howard will oversee a force of more than 100 officers who police the 171 square miles of District 5. Since he joined the district in 2003, he said the commercial and residential growth in south county — from more urban areas like Clinton to the southeastern rural region — has created new challenges.

"With the residential development has come more traffic — it slows down any response time for officers," he said. "A lot of these roads are still two-lane, what they were 10 to 15 years ago."

Although most crime is down in District 5, he added that "the influx of people and vehicles, it gives us the opportunity to see some of the problems inside the [Capital] Beltway."

Local residents have applauded Howard's promotion, citing his regular appearances at the District V Coffee Club — a weekly forum for residents, business owners and police — and his role in setting up neighborhood watches and other community-based programs. Howard said a top priority is encouraging newer residential developments and commercial corridors to embrace programs that have brought down crime in older communities.

Upper Marlboro resident and coffee club member Barry Schlossberg, who volunteers regularly to assist District 5 police, said he and several other residents spoke to county Police Chief Roberto Hylton on Howard's behalf after learning Morris was leaving.

"I think that is a great promotion, not only for him but for the community as well," Schlossberg said. "He gets out there, he's very candid with community representatives ... by the same token he's very receptive to community feedback."

Howard's new assistant commander, Capt. Jason Bogue, comes from District 3 in Seat Pleasant where he was serving as a shift lieutenant. Bogue, who grew up in Bowie, has served in a variety of departments and districts since joining the department in 1994, but he is a newcomer to south county.

"Getting to know the community, whatever their concerns are...I'm looking forward to it, it's a different challenge," he said.