New Colonel is First Woman to Lead State's Police Force

Governor Deval Patrick on January 14, 2010 administered the oath of office to Marian J. McGovern, whom he appointed Colonel and Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. Colonel McGovern took the oath in a ceremony at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts. She is the first woman to hold the position in the state's history.

"Marian McGovern brings to her new position a distinguished record of service and valuable experience gained during three decades as a sworn member of the Massachusetts State Police," said Governor Patrick. "She is highly-qualified to lead this critical agency forward into the 21 ^st Century."

Added Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray: "Marian McGovern's vast experience in public service will be a tremendous asset to the State Police and residents of the Commonwealth. With her years of experience, successful leadership, and numerous achievements, I am fully confident that she is the best person to lead the State Police."

Colonel McGovern, who said she was humbled by the responsibility to lead the state's police force, embraces the department's long-honored traditions while also understanding the need to adopt new strategies and missions to meet the law enforcement challenges of the future. The Colonel cited the additional challenges posed by the fiscal challenges facing all state governments.

"We will emerge from this challenge an even better agency, because we are finding smarter ways to do our jobs," Colonel McGovern said. "Under my leadership, we will continue to do that - we will do it by making use of the latest law enforcement technology, by implementing efficient management models, and by continuing to emphasize intelligence-driven policing. By continually analyzing what kind of services are needed, and where and when they are needed, we can ensure that we are in a position to respond effectively and get the job done - whether it requires five troopers or 50."

Noting the presence at the oath-of-office ceremony of a children's choir, members of a Boys' and Girls' club, and civic leaders, Colonel McGovern emphasized that the State Police will be responsive to concerns of diverse communities. She said that she downplays her pioneering status as the first woman commander of the State Police, but also pledged to emphasize efforts to diversify the force.

"Any organization better serves its constituency the more it reflects that constituency and understands its concerns," Colonel McGovern said. "To that end, we plan to ask civic leaders and groups to help us reach out to diverse communities to explain what we do and recruit qualified candidates to join our mission."

Colonel McGovern's three-decade career with the State Police began as a road trooper in 1979. She later served as a detective and then as commander of the Worcester County State Police Detective Unit. As a major, she was assigned to the crime lab, where she helped develop the unit that enters evidence into the Combined DNA Index System, a national database that seeks to match DNA collected from crime scenes to profiles of known offenders.

Additionally, Colonel McGovern oversaw the implementation in Massachusetts of the AMBER Alert Program, a tool that has proven successful in finding abducted children. As a lieutenant colonel, she served as commander of the Division of Standards and Training, which oversees internal investigations and the State Police Academy. She was appointed Deputy Superintendent, the department's second-in-command, in January 2009.

Kevin M. Burke, who as secretary of the Office of Public Safety and Security oversaw the State Police, noted Colonel McGovern's unique path to her new position.

"Colonel McGovern joined the Massachusetts State Police 30 years ago when the policing community wasn't particularly fond of women joining its ranks," said Secretary Burke, who retired in late January. "Her ability to not only survive, but to excel at every task and challenge assigned has prepared her for one of the most difficult positions in law enforcement."

"With the tenacity that's become her trademark, we know that Colonel McGovern will lead the Commonwealth's largest law enforcement agency forward," added Mary Beth Heffernan, who succeeds Secretary Burke as public safety secretary. "Her qualifications make her well-suited for the tasks ahead."

Colonel McGovern holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from Framingham State College and a Master of Science degree in criminal justice from Westfield State College. She is a past recipient of the Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award by the National Center for Women and Policing and the Distinguished Law Enforcement Award from Blue Mass, Diocese of Worcester. She was raised in Worcester, where she attended local public schools and Holy Name High School.

Governor Patrick announced Colonel McGovern's appointment on December 10, succeeding Colonel Mark F. Delaney, who retired after a 35-year State Police career.

The Massachusetts State Police department was created in 1865, making it the oldest statewide law enforcement agency in the nation. Today, it is comprised of more than 2,200 sworn officers and several hundred civilian members. The department operates a Division of Field Services, Division of Investigative Services, Division of Standards and Training, and Division of Administrative Services.