A Black man will lead the Maryland State Police
The Maryland Senate confirmed Lt. Col. Roland Butler last week to be the first Black superintendent of the Maryland State Police.
The Senate voted 43-4 to confirm Gov. Wes Moore’s nomination.
Gov. Moore said Butler is the best person to move the state police forward.
Butler has served as the chief of the State Police Field Operations Bureau, leading more than 1,000 troopers assigned to 23 barracks.
In October, three Maryland State Police officers said the department disciplines officers of color more harshly than White officers.
As of 2021, there are more than 1,400 troopers. Of those, more than 1,200 are white and 172 are black.