Voices of Laurel

08/25/2026

The Laurel Police Department’s new Axon demonstration camera appears to be installed—but as of Tuesday evening, August 25, it is still wrapped and apparently not yet operational.

LPD announced last week that the camera was scheduled to go live Monday, August 24, for a 60-day demonstration period. It is located near the busy intersection of northbound Route 1 and Route 198, in the CVS parking lot.

The camera will have both live-streaming and license plate-reading capabilities. LPD says the location was selected because of the high volume of traffic and the number of crimes in the area in which suspects have fled on foot. Police hope the live video will help officers obtain accurate clothing and physical descriptions in real time, while license plate data could assist with investigations.

LPD has also emphasized that it will retain control over the data collected by the Axon system. According to the department, information will not be shared with other law enforcement agencies without a formal request and approval by LPD command staff, and the department will be able to audit who accesses the camera data and why.

The equipment is clearly visible on the newly installed pole, including the camera unit beneath the solar panel—but the camera itself remains wrapped as of this evening.

08/21/2026

The Laurel Police Department will begin a 60-day test of a new Axon camera system on Monday, August 24, near northbound U.S. Route 1 and Route 198.

The camera will provide live-streaming video and automated license plate-reading (ALPR) capabilities. LPD says the location was selected because of its high traffic volume and the number of crimes occurring in the area, including incidents in which suspects flee on foot. In addition to identifying vehicles, police hope the live video will help officers obtain real-time clothing and physical descriptions of suspects.

While the technology is similar to the Flock license plate reader cameras that have generated privacy and data-sharing concerns around the country, this demonstration involves Axon, not Flock. The Axon system described by LPD combines license plate recognition with live video surveillance.

LPD acknowledged the broader controversy surrounding some license plate-reading platforms and emphasized that the department will maintain control over its data. According to LPD, information collected by the camera will be used only for criminal investigations and will not be shared with other law enforcement agencies without a formal request, review and approval by LPD command staff. The department will also be able to audit who accesses the camera data and for what purpose.

The demonstration is part of LPD's evaluation of a potential longer-term partnership with Axon.

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The Laurel Police Department is currently evaluating a partnership with Axon to install cameras with live-streaming and license plate reading capabilities. The department will be installing a camera for a 60-day demonstration period in the area of northbound US Rt. 1 and MD Rt. 198 to assist in this process. The plan is for the camera to go live on Monday, August 24th.

The demonstration camera will offer the Laurel Police Department the ability to live stream footage of the area, and the camera will be reading license plates as well. We have chosen this site for the demonstration due to the high volume of vehicles in the area and the number of in progress crime issues we encounter in that area including where the suspects are fleeing on foot to escape identification and apprehension. We are hopeful this camera will aid us in identifying suspects by giving us accurate clothing and physical descriptions in real time. The information captured by the camera will only be used to assist with criminal investigations.

The Laurel Police Department takes the privacy of our residents and the sensitivity of the data it collects very seriously. We are aware of the controversies currently surrounding some license plate reading platforms, although not Axon, and their data collection and sharing practices. In selecting Axon as a potential company to partner with, we have chosen a vendor who will allow us full control over who can and cannot access the data we collect, as well as an established technological partner with this and many other local agencies. We will not be sharing our data with any other law enforcement agencies without them submitting a formal request through official channels that must then be approved by a member of our command staff. All such requests for data sharing will be vetted and reviewed before we share any information. We will also have full audit capabilities to internally monitor who within the Laurel Police Department is accessing the camera data and for what reason.

As an agency we are committed to remaining transparent about the technologies we utilize and the reasons for doing so. We hope that cameras like these will aid our officers in their investigations and help keep our community safe.

08/20/2026

BOOK LOVERS, HISTORY FANS & WHFS LISTENERS—THIS SUNDAY!

The Laurel History Boys' 2026 Laurel Book Fair will be at Oliver's Old Towne Tavern this Sunday, Aug. 23, from 3–6 pm—and admission is FREE!

Meet local and regional authors, browse books covering everything from Laurel history and rock ’n’ roll to romance, suspense and humor, and get your books signed. And there’s a special guest longtime Washington-area music fans will definitely recognize: Legendary WHFS DJ Weasel!

Come meet Weasel, get an autograph, and hear a few stories from the glory days of WHFS.

Sunday, Aug. 23
3–6 p.m.
Oliver’s Old Towne Tavern, 531 Main Street, Laurel
FREE

See the full lineup of authors and books here:

The Laurel History Boys will bring together local history, music, fiction, memoir, and more during the 2026 Book Fair, Sunday, August 23, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Oliver’s Old Towne Tavern, 531 Main Street in Laurel.Books will be available for purchase, and attendees are also encouraged to bring copies...

08/19/2026

Future Laurel Senior Community Hosting Back-to-School Event

Harmony at Laurel, a senior-living community coming soon to the Watershed development near Russett, will sponsor a back-to-school event on Thursday, August 20, in collaboration with PJ’s Coffee. The “Pencil Promise (Every Pencil Holds a Possibility)” event is described as a “supply drive with a purpose” and will offer a teacher appreciation corner, activities, giveaways, raffles, and light bites and refreshments.

The event will be held from 3–5 pm at the Harmony House of Laurel Sales and Leasing Center, 3433 Laurel Ft. Meade Road, 20724.

08/18/2026

A small souvenir can hold a lifetime of memories.

This latest "Laurel Archeology" column from The Laurel History Boys' Pete Lewnes explores how the little things we save can become lasting connections to people, places, and moments from the past.

Years ago, promotional items like these were a common way for businesses to advertise. Restaurants, bars, and other local establishments often gave customers free ashtrays, matchbooks, and calendars featuring their name and logo.As a kid, I assumed taking an ashtray from a restaurant was stealing. O...

08/15/2026

Ever wonder how Jessup, Maryland got its name?

Meet Jonathan Jessop—a Quaker leader whose remarkable life included clockmaking, bridge design, horticulture, work as a B&O Railroad superintendent, and connections to the early abolitionist movement. He even propagated the apple that became the famous York Imperial.

His story stretches from a Revolutionary War battlefield in North Carolina to York, Pennsylvania—and ultimately into the history of the community that still bears his name.

Discover the fascinating story of Jonathan Jessop in Wayne Davis' latest column.

From North Carolina to York, Pennsylvania(Above): A portrait of Jonathan Jessop, the Quaker leader, engineer, and namesake of Jessup, Maryland; a map he drew as a young boy depicting the March 15, 1781 Battle of Guilford Courthouse, fought around his family’s North Carolina farm. Jessop’s remark...

08/12/2026

What will people remember about Laurel Elementary 100 years from now?

Shane Walker, Media Specialist at Laurel Elementary School and a lifelong member of the Laurel community, reflects on the school’s June 5, 2026 centennial celebration—a day that brought generations of students, teachers, staff, and families together.

From old yearbooks and historic photographs to beloved school traditions and even pieces of a time capsule, the celebration honored the many ways Laurel Elementary has changed over the past century—and the important role it continues to play in bringing the community together.

I wonder if, 100 years from now, there will still be a City of Laurel and if the citizens will remember that, 100 years earlier, it was declared that June 5th is Laurel Elementary Day.Laurel Elementary held its centennial birthday on June 5, 2026, with an after-school celebration unlike anything we....

08/10/2026

As the school marks its 100th anniversary, take a look back at the people, history, and moments that have made Laurel Elementary such an important part of the community.

Written by Kristen Norton, Executive Director of the Laurel Historical Society, this special Voices of Laurel article celebrates a century of education and community history.

On June 5, community members, students, alumni, and current and former teachers gathered at Laurel Elementary School (LES) to celebrate the school’s 100th anniversary. The celebration began with a short ceremony in the school cafeteria. Across from the stage was a mural of the original 1926 school...

08/08/2026

When local government uses generative AI, what happens to accuracy, public trust, creativity—and the meaning behind our civic symbols?

In this Voices of Laurel opinion piece, Danielle Delgado examines the City of Laurel’s use of AI-generated imagery and raises broader questions about the ethical and environmental costs of GenAI in government.

Read “Art-Official” Intelligence: The Concerns of GenAI in Government and join the conversation.

OPINIONWhether you like it or not, the AI revolution is here to stay. It has become nearly impossible to go a day online without artificial intelligence playing some role in our digital experiences, from Google’s AI Overview appearing at the top of search results to the content that fills our soci...