Questions remain for Gov. Wes Moore’s pick for Maryland State Police’s superintendent.Lt. Col. Roland Butler went before a Maryland State Senate committee Monday evening to convince them to endorse his nomination to the full Senate.| VIDEO ABOVE: Moore’s pick to lead MSP faces confirmation hurdleButler would be the first Black superintendent of the State Police, but senators had a lot of questions about his role in a department now under federal investigation for discrimination. Three state troopers filed a class-action lawsuit in 2022 alleging systemic discrimination against officers of color.| RELATED: Group of Maryland state troopers file class-action lawsuit against departmentMonday’s hearing”Internally, I understand the Maryland State Police,” Butler said. “I’ve dedicated 28.5 years of my life to the Maryland State Police. I know I can make it better.”Butler made his case to the Senate Executive Nominations Committee Monday, outlining his plan if he is named superintendent.”To begin, we must acknowledge and address all bias and discriminatory practices,” Butler said. “We have the duty to build trust (and) boost morale.”With the agency currently under federal investigation for racial discrimination within the department, Senators questioned Butler about being in a leadership role at the time of those complaints.”Yes, I was a part of that structure, but as a bureau chief you don’t get to see everything,” he said. “The biggest thing we need to do is start with building trust — trust and communication. People need to feel comfortable bringing their concerns to me or anyone else within the rank structure.”Senators had a stack of letters in support of Butler, but also 30 pages of people writing in with concerns. They questioned why some of those people said they didn’t feel comfortable coming to him with their issues.”I can tell you I’ll sit down and talk with them. I’ll make my trek across the state to meet with people,” Butler said.He told senators that he is willing to do what it takes to recruit more officers, increase diversity and fix what’s broken in the state policing system.”Just like we talk about national law enforcement reform, I will have to reform to lead the Maryland State Police, and I look forward to working with everyone who has a stake in this,” he said.The senators did not vote on Butler’s nomination Monday. No date has been set for that vote.Push and pullLast month, a legislative committee learned that an Eastern Shore state police barrack established a quota system for issuing tickets and making DUI arrests.”There is a plan in place,” Rodney Morris, a former president of the Coalition of Black Maryland State Troopers, told 11 News on Friday.When asked whether the plan includes getting Butler through the nomination, Morris said: “That’s not part of the plan.”On Friday, Gov. Wes Moore held a private meeting with Butler and the Coalition of Black Maryland State Troopers, reiterating his support for his nominee.”I think because Col. Butler has come up through the ranks, in this moment, (he) is uniquely prepared to lead, is uniquely prepared to fix the culture that we know needs fixing, that we know needs addressing. And, because he has experience, understanding that and a clear vision on what it is going to take for us to get there, that’s why I stand by him to be our next leader for MSP,” Moore said. The governor’s office said there were no plans to withdraw Butler’s nomination. The office sent a statement to 11 News Friday evening, saying: “Gov. Moore had a productive meeting today with the Coalition of Black State Troopers and Lt. Col. Roland Butler. Lt. Col. Butler takes the suggestions provided by the troopers and other stakeholders seriously, and knows their voices are critical to making much-needed changes in the department.”Gov. Moore is confident in Lt. Col. Butler’s ability to lead the Maryland State Police. His three-decade career in the Maryland State Police makes him well prepared to serve as superintendent and move the department forward.”
Questions remain for Gov. Wes Moore’s pick for Maryland State Police’s superintendent.
Lt. Col. Roland Butler went before a Maryland State Senate committee Monday evening to convince them to endorse his nomination to the full Senate.
| VIDEO ABOVE: Moore’s pick to lead MSP faces confirmation hurdle
Butler would be the first Black superintendent of the State Police, but senators had a lot of questions about his role in a department now under federal investigation for discrimination. Three state troopers filed a class-action lawsuit in 2022 alleging systemic discrimination against officers of color.
| RELATED: Group of Maryland state troopers file class-action lawsuit against department
Monday’s hearing
“Internally, I understand the Maryland State Police,” Butler said. “I’ve dedicated 28.5 years of my life to the Maryland State Police. I know I can make it better.”
Butler made his case to the Senate Executive Nominations Committee Monday, outlining his plan if he is named superintendent.
“To begin, we must acknowledge and address all bias and discriminatory practices,” Butler said. “We have the duty to build trust (and) boost morale.”
With the agency currently under federal investigation for racial discrimination within the department, Senators questioned Butler about being in a leadership role at the time of those complaints.
“Yes, I was a part of that structure, but as a bureau chief you don’t get to see everything,” he said. “The biggest thing we need to do is start with building trust — trust and communication. People need to feel comfortable bringing their concerns to me or anyone else within the rank structure.”
Senators had a stack of letters in support of Butler, but also 30 pages of people writing in with concerns. They questioned why some of those people said they didn’t feel comfortable coming to him with their issues.
“I can tell you I’ll sit down and talk with them. I’ll make my trek across the state to meet with people,” Butler said.
He told senators that he is willing to do what it takes to recruit more officers, increase diversity and fix what’s broken in the state policing system.
“Just like we talk about national law enforcement reform, I will have to reform to lead the Maryland State Police, and I look forward to working with everyone who has a stake in this,” he said.
The senators did not vote on Butler’s nomination Monday. No date has been set for that vote.
Push and pull
Last month, a legislative committee learned that an Eastern Shore state police barrack established a quota system for issuing tickets and making DUI arrests.
“There is a plan in place,” Rodney Morris, a former president of the Coalition of Black Maryland State Troopers, told 11 News on Friday.
When asked whether the plan includes getting Butler through the nomination, Morris said: “That’s not part of the plan.”
On Friday, Gov. Wes Moore held a private meeting with Butler and the Coalition of Black Maryland State Troopers, reiterating his support for his nominee.
“I think because Col. Butler has come up through the ranks, in this moment, (he) is uniquely prepared to lead, is uniquely prepared to fix the culture that we know needs fixing, that we know needs addressing. And, because he has experience, understanding that and a clear vision on what it is going to take for us to get there, that’s why I stand by him to be our next leader for MSP,” Moore said.
The governor’s office said there were no plans to withdraw Butler’s nomination. The office sent a statement to 11 News Friday evening, saying: “Gov. Moore had a productive meeting today with the Coalition of Black State Troopers and Lt. Col. Roland Butler. Lt. Col. Butler takes the suggestions provided by the troopers and other stakeholders seriously, and knows their voices are critical to making much-needed changes in the department.
“Gov. Moore is confident in Lt. Col. Butler’s ability to lead the Maryland State Police. His three-decade career in the Maryland State Police makes him well prepared to serve as superintendent and move the department forward.”
