BALTIMORE — Maryland State Police Superintendent Col. Roland Butler is retiring the governor's office announced Friday.
Maryland State Senator Michael will be the acting superintendent beginning Nov. 12.
“Colonel Roland Butler is a true public servant in every sense of that phrase, and our state is safer because of his distinguished leadership,” said Gov. Moore. “During Colonel Butler’s 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.
Butler is retiring after more than 31 years in law enforcement.
He was confirmed by the Maryland State Senate on March 31, 2023, becoming the first Black person to ever hold the position.
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Jackson served 22 years with the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office, including eight years as elected sheriff for Prince George's County and more than five years as Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 112.
He was elected to the Maryland General Assembly in 2014.
Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey issued the following statement in response to Jackson's appointment:
I want to thank Colonel Roland Butler for his more than three decades of dedicated service to the Maryland State Police. His leadership and commitment to public safety leave a lasting mark on the agency.
I also want to congratulate my colleague Senator Michael Jackson on his appointment as the next superintendent. Senator Jackson has served the people of Maryland with integrity and distinction—both in law enforcement and in the General Assembly—and I wish him well as he takes on this critical responsibility.
That said, this latest shake-up adds to a growing and concerning trend within the Moore Administration. An alarming number of the Governor’s top appointees have left their posts well before the end of his first term. When so many senior officials walk away this early, it’s fair to ask why. Is it exhaustion, disagreement, or frustration with the Governor’s leadership and direction? Whatever the reason, this level of turnover should deeply concern Marylanders who expect steady, competent leadership from the state’s top executive.”
