Lt. Col. Roland Butler becomes the first black superintendent of the Maryland State Police following Senate confirmation.
As previously reported, in February Governor Wes Moore named Lt. Col. Roland Butler to serve as Superintendent of the Maryland State Police (MSP). Lt. Col. Butler then faced a difficult Senate confirmation.
From The Baltimore Sun:
His rise follows a 28-year career with the state police, where he most recently served as chief of the field operations bureau, overseeing 1,000 troopers.
It also came as the agency faced issues on several fronts — including a U.S. Department of Justice investigation announced last year that is looking into potential racial discrimination in hiring and promotion practices, and a federal lawsuit from a group of troopers alleging racial discrimination.
Butler, during his confirmation process, had acknowledged he was “part of that structure” but that he hoped to move the agency into a “new era.” He offered a list of goals, such as developing a merit-based promotion system that is “grounded in fairness and transparency,” and increasing staff for the agency’s Office of Equity and Inclusion.
The article further notes that the legislature will be withholding some funds from the superintendent’s budget pending reports on the progress of the goals.
Upon Lt. Col Butler’s confirmation, Governor Moore released the following statement:
“With three decades of exemplary service in the department, Lt. Col. Roland Butler is the best person to move the Maryland Department of State Police forward. I want to thank the members of the Senate for overwhelmingly supporting his confirmation.
Lt. Col. Butler will work in partnership to execute his vision and reform the department by increasing morale, building trust, and addressing the concerns that were raised both prior to his tenure and during the nomination process. Lt. Col. Butler has my full confidence–I know he will build a department that reflects the values of our great state and is diverse, well-trained, and thoroughly prepared for any challenge we might face.
Throughout this process, I have been proud to support such a well-qualified, historic candidate and I look forward to swearing in Lt. Col. Roland Butler as the next Superintendent of the Maryland Department of State Police.”
For more information:
Governor Moore’s Statement on the Senate Confirmation of Lt. Col. Roland Butler as Superintendent of Maryland Department of State Police (press release)
