Mount St. Mary's University's Criminal Justice Student Association (CJSA) will host the annual Drever Lecture at 7 p.m. on March 12 in the Delaplaine Theater. Maryland State Police Superintendent Roland Butler will present the 2025 lecture on “Challenges Facing Law Enforcement in 2025.”
Superintendent Butler has extensive law enforcement experience and has served in line and supervisory positions in both the patrol and investigation bureaus while being promoted through the ranks over the last 29 years. He has led numerous joint local and federal initiatives involving homeland security, emergency management and statewide security details.
Appointed as superintendent by Governor Wes Moore in 2023, Butler is the first African-American superintendent in the 102-year history of the Maryland State Police. His vision includes the recruitment and retention of qualified candidates to serve the citizens of Maryland while creating equal opportunities for advancement through a promotional system grounded in fairness and transparency.
On July 1, 2020, Major Roland Butler was promoted to lieutenant colonel and appointed as chief of the Field Operations Bureau overseeing over 1,000 troopers and investigative personnel assigned to 23 barracks across the state. Operational plans to ensure efficiency and accountability contributed to the reduction of crime, crashes, radiological threats, natural disasters, acts of terrorism and disruption. He has been the lead in numerous joint local and federal exercises involving homeland security, emergency management, and statewide security details.
Colonel Butler earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in organizational leadership from Johns Hopkins University, Public Safety Leadership program. He is also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command.
The Drever Lecture is designed to encourage knowledge, proficiency, efficiency and ethical standards in criminal justice, intelligence and fire officer professions. The lecture series is named in honor of Mark Drever, chief executive officer and founding partner of Xcelerate Solutions.