Westminster state police barrack gets its first female commander

The first female commander of the Maryland State Police's Westminster Barrack doesn't see the barrier-breaking achievement to be of particular significance — but she understands that, to others, it's a big deal.

"As far as significance, it is not significant to me," Lt. Rebecca Bosley wrote in an email. "However, I do understand that it may be significant for other people, and it is important to have role models, so I understand that it is important to show a younger generation that having a leadership position and being female is possible."

Sheriff Jim DeWees, who previously held the commander position during his career with MSP, said Bosley has the skills needed to gain the respect of those she leads, and that's more significant than her gender.

"It doesn't matter whether you're a male or female as long as you can lead troopers," he said.

Bosley said she anticipates that leadership training and communication skills will be crucial in her new role.

"Speaking with the community and providing people information is imperative. Transparency and fairness is critical for community involvement," she wrote in an email.

Bosley took command on Feb. 14, succeeding Lt. Patrick McCrory, who had been in place since 2013. She has moved around quite a bit during her career with MSP, but she keeps returning to Westminster, which was her first assignment after graduating from the police academy.

She was in Carroll until 2008, when she was promoted and transferred to Frederick. She returned to Westminster as a corporal and was named Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for the barrack in 2010. But then she was on the move again, promoted to sergeant and transferred to Howard County, where she was the NCO of the year for the Waterloo Barrack in 2012. She was then selected to command the newly developed DUI enforcement team known as State Police Impaired Driving Effort (SPIDRE), and commanded that unit until she was promoted to first sergeant and transferred to the Rockville Barrack.

Bosley was promoted to lieutenant in January 2017 and took command of the Motor Vehicle Division. Then, in February, she was sent back to where she began, as commander of the Westminster Barrack.

"Lt. Bosley has an outstanding work ethic, upholds and demands a high standard of integrity, is extremely reliable and she wants to ensure the Westminster Barrack provides the best law enforcement service in Carroll County," said Capt. Shawn Ward, commander of the Central Troop of MSP via email.

DeWees said having Bosley in the command position has further enhanced the relationship between their two agencies.

Bosley attends weekly meetings with the command staff of the Sheriff's Office, allowing the agencies to "gather our resources and fight the same issues," DeWees said. Bosley is familiar with much of his command staff.

He added that on top of having strong ties to Carroll, "They couldn't have found a more competent person."

When asked what people may not know about the life of a law enforcement officer, Bosley said, "What I would like people to understand is we are doing a job and it is not personal."

Law enforcement officers typically see people at their worst, she said, and that limited interaction isn't sufficient to make a judgment.

"We are normal, everyday people who just want to make a difference for the better," she said.

crighter@baltsun.com

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