Page 21 - F&E Blue Spring 2018

In Memoriam

Sergeant Maureen Wesinger-Lewis

Sergeant Wesinger-Lewis passed away the evening of June 18th. She was a Massachusetts
State Trooper for 31 years, the last five of which she spent commanding our Mounted Unit. She is
remembered with much admiration as a special person, a great leader, and a strong advocate for
horses and police mounted units.
During her tenure leading the Mounted Unit, Sergeant
Wesinger-Lewis grew the unit to 11 full-time Troopers
and expanded its mission to year-round patrols of state
parks, beaches, and reservations. While other departments
disbanded mounted units because of budget reasons, the
State Police unit thrived under Sergeant Wesinger-Lewis —
the best champion it could have.

She was also instrumental, while in the midst of her
illness, in establishing a curriculum and training by the State
Police Mounted Unit for a newly-created Worcester Police
Mounted Unit.

A “horse person” her whole life, Sergeant
Wesinger-Lewis also served in the Mounted
Unit earlier in her career before she was named
commander in 2013. She loved the MSP horses
that the unit trains and cares for. She also
cared deeply for the Troopers she led, always
remembering details about them and such
milestones as birthdays and anniversaries.

As tough as any Trooper who ever wore
the badge, Sergeant Wesinger-Lewis set a heroic
example — throughout her long illness, as she
fought fiercely against her disease, she did not let
cancer keep her away from the job, and the horses
and the Troopers, she loved; during the last few
years, she would report to the Mounted Unit headquarters as often as her health allowed, always
positive, always upbeat, always ready to work and to lead.

We extend our deepest condolences to Sergeant Maureen Wesinger-Lewis’ husband, retired
State Police Lieutenant Bill Lewis, and all her loved ones, friends, and colleagues. She is dearly, deeply
missed.

F r en c h·a n d·E le c t r ic·B l ue·S p r in g 2018·p a g e·21