New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
“On Nov. 21, 2019, Christopher S. Mason was ceremonially sworn-in as the 37th commander of the police agency now known as the Massachusetts State Police, and the 11th to hold the rank of Superintendent/Colonel. Governor Charlie Baker administered the oath of office to Colonel Mason in the Governor’s ceremonial office, with many family members and friends of the Colonel looking on.
Among those joining the Governor and the Colonel for the ceremony were Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Undersecretary of Public Safety Terrence Reidy, and Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe, for whose office Colonel Mason investigated homicides and other major crimes for many years during earlier periods of his MSP career. Colonel Mason was most recently, as a Lieutenant Colonel, the Deputy Superintendent of Department, and prior to that commanded the Department’s Division of Investigative Services. He is also a former commander of the Commonwealth Fusion Center, the Massachusetts State Police-led criminal intelligence and anti-terrorism section, and a former commander of the State Police Detective Unit for the Cape and Islands District.
In addition, we are proud to announce the promotions and command designations of Deborah Ryan and James Hanlon to the rank of Major. Major Ryan assumes command of MSP Troop A, which provides patrol and many other police services to northeastern Massachusetts. Major Hanlon takes command of Troop H, which provides patrol and police services to metropolitan Boston. Their leadership skills make them ideally suited to head the MSP’s mission in those Troops.”-Massachusetts State Police.
