BHM: Captain Milton Taylor

MARYLAND – In the next edition of our Black History Month coverage, we’re highlighting the first Black man to serve in the Maryland State Police, Captain Milton Taylor.

Back in 1957, Captain Taylor made history by breaking the color barrier in MSP. He served the department for 25 years before retiring in 1982. Captain Taylor’s life and career laid the foundation for many of the African American troopers in the department today.

After graduating from the Academy, Captain Taylor claimed the ranks to Detective Sergeant in just over 12 years. In 1973, then-Second Lieutenant Taylor was named Chief of the Domestic Intelligence Unit, where he remained for nearly two years until his promotion to First Lieutenant. By 1980, he was promoted to Captain, making him the highest ranking African American State Trooper before his retirement.

Captain Taylor was the first African American to reach commissioned status.

“This one man changed the face of the Maryland State Police, which would significantly impact future generations of African Americans aspiring to be state troopers,” said Lieutenant Colonel Stewart Russell.

In 1994, Captain Taylor was honored with an exhibit in the Howard County Center of African American Culture in Columbia, Maryland.