ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore joined Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr. to welcome the graduates of the 159th Academy Class to the ranks of Maryland’s Finest during a ceremony today at LifePoint Church in Reisterstown. In his remarks, the governor thanked the cadets and their families for their sacrifices on behalf of the people of Maryland.
“Today, you aren’t just making history—you’re building a legacy, because you are now part of the proud tradition of service that defines our state,”
said Gov. Moore. “From the rural highways of Allegany County to the coasts of the Eastern Shore, the Maryland State Police are there—running toward danger when others run from it. My promise to you is that I will do everything in my power to ensure you have the tools you need to get the job done, and come home safe.”
The Maryland State Police remains steadfast in its ongoing commitment to focus on enhancing diversity while ensuring the most highly qualified applicants are recruited to serve and protect. Among the members of the 159th Academy Class—the largest Maryland State Police Academy graduating class in five years—three have prior military experience, seven are paramedics, and 12 were Maryland State Police cadets. Twenty-one of the recruits have college degrees and 29 are enrolled in the concurrent Associate of Arts program with Frederick Community College.
“After enduring one of the most challenging police academies in the nation, these women and men have proven they possess the skill, integrity and perseverance to protect and serve the people of Maryland,”
said Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr. “We are honored to welcome Class 159 as they continue the proud tradition of joining generations of Maryland State Troopers.”
The 159th Academy Class completed 27 weeks of rigorous training at the Maryland State Police Academy in Sykesville that demanded their very best, at all times. Following graduation, each trooper is required to complete eight weeks of additional field training with an experienced trooper before they are able to patrol alone. This close collaboration and training of the academy class is helping Maryland boast some of the most impressive crime drops in the entire country.
The Moore-Miller Administration has continued to demonstrate its commitment to promoting public safety with historic investments in law enforcement, including nearly $122 million in the FY 2026 state budget to support local police statewide. These efforts have contributed to significant declines in violent crime across Maryland—with preliminary data indicating that statewide homicides and non-fatal shootings have reached their lowest levels in a decade.
To ensure these downward trends continue, the Maryland State Police is expanding its network of local barracks and specialized divisions in partnership with local jurisdictions. Next month, the department will celebrate the opening of Berlin Barrack ‘V’ on the Eastern Shore, which will offer 30,000 square feet of space including the barrack, a crime laboratory, and a 4,940 square foot garage.
Additionally, the Maryland State Police, through the Maryland Gun Center, is continuing to partner with local jurisdictions across the state to remove illegal firearms from Maryland communities. During just one week this month, the Maryland Gun Center received more than 15% more calls or emails compared to the same time last year, allowing the Maryland State Police to accelerate their work to remove illegal guns used in violent crime statewide.