Page 2 - FE Blue Spring 2019

From the Colonel
From the Colonel

Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin gave the following remarks at charting our course forward,
the Department’s Spring Promotional Ceremony. improving our effectiveness
and efficiency, ensuring the
ood evening and welcome to State Police safety and well-being of
General Headquarters. Thank you all for join- our members, and making
Ging us tonight to recognize the promotions of sure our personnel have
95 sworn members of the Department to higher ranks. the resources, training, and
On behalf of Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Polito, equipment necessary to do
Secretary of Public Safety, Thomas Turco, and our their jobs.
entire MSP family, I thank all of you for your continued There are two other special
support of the Massachusetts State Police. parts of tonight’s ceremony.
When it comes to promotions within the State Police, We will be swearing-in our
there is no such thing as accidental success. State Police Chaplains, who
Those who are promoted, put in long hours of prepa- play a very important role in
ration and studying, to complement the lessons they our Department.
have already learned through experience in their The job of a police officer
various assignments and duties. is a stressful one, for the officer, and his or her fam-
To get promoted, it takes dedication and commitment ily. The spiritual and moral guidance provided by
to the task at hand. I commend all of our promo-tees our Chaplain Core to our MSP family, in both good
for putting in the time and effort and for embracing the times and bad, in times of celebration and crisis; is an
increased responsibilities that come with their new irreplaceable component of our efforts to ensure the
leadership roles. well-being of our members and their loved ones.
A promotion is much more than a set of stripes or a Tonight we will also be posthumously promoting
silver or gold collar ornament. As our members will Maureen Wesinger-Lewis to the rank of Lieutenant.
tell you, promotions are not about show. Lieutenant Wesinger-Lewis was the former command-
They are about hard work, and a willingness to make er of our Mounted Unit. We lost Maureen last year
hard decisions, and to hold those under your super- after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
vision to the highest standards of performance and What an example of bravery and fortitude she set.
conduct. Even at the height of her illness, Maureen worked
It is certainly not a popularity contest, and if all the as much as she could, and even in the worst times,
decisions you make are popular, you’re not doing your her concerns for the Troopers and horses of her unit,
job. But when you embrace your new supervisory were always foremost in her mind and heart.
and command duties, you are ensuring the continued Finally, I would like to say a few words about all
success of this agency, improving its operation, and of you here tonight, the families and friends of our
most importantly, fulfilling our mission to protect the promoted members.Even in the calmest times, there
safety of the citizens we serve. are sacrifices that those who love a Trooper have to
Tonight we recognize the promotions of 42 Ser- make. You sacrifice peace of mind, you sacrifice time
geants, 29 Lieutenants, 10 Detective Lieutenants, 6 together on holidays. Weekends and days off don’t
Captains, 2 Detective Captains, and 3 Majors, many often match up with that of your loved one, birthdays
of whom are in attendance tonight and all of whom and ball games and school plays are missed. The
have critical roles to play to ensure that the mission sacrifice is even greater when the Trooper you love is
and values of the State Police are carried out every studying for a promotional exam.
day. I am also pleased to recognize the promotions To the wives and husbands gathered here today, the
of three members of my senior command staff – my mothers and fathers, children and siblings and close
Deputy Superintendent Christopher Mason, Lieu- friends, please know we understand your sacrifices,
tenant Colonel Philip Dowd - Division Commander of too, and we thank you for them. I am so grateful for
Investigative Services and Lieutenant Colonel Scott all that you do to support the MSP family.
Warmington - Division Commander of Standards and To all of you here, please know how much I depend
Training. on you to help the Massachusetts State Police fulfill
Each of them, along with the other members of the our mission and achieve our goals. I have the great-
senior command staff, is indispensable to me in con- est confidence in you and your ability to lead this
ceiving and fulfilling the vision of what this Department Department into its next chapter. Thank you.
can, and should be. They assist me every day in
2 French and Electric Blue