Several weeks ago, Gov. Wes Moore named long-time state police officer Col. Roland Butler to be his superintendent, essentially chief of the state police.
There was some controversy over the fact that Butler was retiring from his job, drawing his pension, and then coming back to work for the state again.
But even more serious concerns have been raised by some state senators who say that during Butler’s time in the state police a culture of racism and discrimination against black officers was allowed to continue.
Monday, 7News asked Gov. Moore if he stands by Butler. He says he does.
“I think Col. Butler, because he’s come up through the ranks in this moment, is uniquely prepared to lead, uniquely prepared to fix a culture that we know needs fixing, that we know needs addressing,” Gov. Moore says. “And I think because he has experience in understanding that and a clear vision of what it takes to get there that’s why I stand by him to be our next leader of MSP."