In a city of just under 5,000 residents tucked inside Prince George’s County, excellence isn’t a slogan, it’s a mandate. For Chief of Police and Interim City Manager Demetrious Harris, Seat Pleasant’s identity as “the first authentic small smart city in the United States” isn’t about technology alone. It’s about shaping a system where every resident (or as he prefers, every stakeholder) has a voice and a shared responsibility in the city’s success.
“Community means a sense of belonging.… It’s all of us working together for a common goal,”
Harris says, reflecting on the city where he grew up and where his grandmother still lives just around the corner. That personal history infuses everything he does with clarity: belonging isn’t theoretical.
Seat Pleasant’s commitment to connectedness shows up vividly in its youth programs. Through the DOJ-funded PAL initiative, the city expected 10 participants; instead, nearly 200 kids show up. What began as a crime-reduction tool has evolved into a community anchor.
Harris describes outreach with a phrase that perfectly captures Seat Pleasant’s philosophy: “Lotty, Dotty, and Everybody.” Businesses, faith groups, grocery stores, nonprofit partners, anyone who can help strengthen the city is invited to the table. That spirit extends internally as well. Weekly executive roundtables break down silos and reframe “problems” as “opportunities,” encouraging departments to help one another achieve shared goals.
The highest compliment residents can offer, Harris says, is simply acknowledging the city’s north star: “Everything we do, we strive for excellence.”
