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Gov. Wes Moore (D) tapped Sen. Michael A. Jackson (D-Calvert, Charles & Prince George鈥檚) as the next superintendent of the Maryland State Police Friday, replacing Col. Roland L. Butler who is set to retire Nov. 1.
Before he was elected to the legislature, Jackson spent 22 years in the Prince George鈥檚 County Sheriff鈥檚 Office, the last eight, from 2002-2010, as elected sheriff. He was elected to the House of Delegates in 2014 and appointed to the Senate in 2021, winning reelection to the seat in 2022. He serves on the Budget and Taxation Committee.
鈥淗e鈥檚 one of our best members,鈥� Senate Majority Leader Nancy King (D-Montgomery) said of Jackson鈥檚 work on the commitee 鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled for him. It鈥檚 a good opportunity for him. That makes me sad because he鈥檚 a really good friend and he鈥檚 really good on Budget and Tax.鈥�
Butler took the helm at the State Police in early 2023, shortly after Moore鈥檚 inauguration. He became the first Black superintendent of the State Police in the agency鈥檚 history.
In a statement Friday afternoon, Moore applauded Butler for 31 years in law enforcement, calling him a 鈥渢rue public servant.鈥�
鈥淒uring Colonel Butler鈥檚 tenure at the helm of State Police, Maryland has become a national leader in crime reduction and public safety gains. He leaves behind a profound legacy as he enters retirement,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淎nd I also know Senator Michael A. Jackson鈥攁n exceptional public servant in his own right鈥攚ill build on the foundation Colonel Butler laid.鈥�
Butler took the job after a lengthy career in the State Police, including time as chief of the Field Operations Bureau. But he聽faced a聽聽battle, as a group of Black lawmakers argued that Butler had not done enough to promote diversity and address complaints of racism and discriminatory treatment of Black officers.
At the time, Jackson was one of four senators, all from Prince George鈥檚 County, to聽.
Last year, the State Police agreed to pay聽聽a Justice Department investigation that found written and physical hiring tests used by the department discriminated against Black and female applicants.
The investigation in that began in 2022, before Butler鈥檚 tenure, and the funds were to be divided between 48 failed applicants. President Donald Trump鈥檚 (R) administration has since signaled that it intends to聽m similar suits around the country.
Butler plans to retire Nov. 1, Moore said, and Jackson will take over Nov. 12. Lt. Col. Daniel C. Pickett will serve as superintendent in the interim.
鈥� Reporter William J. Ford contributed to this report, which may be updated.
