Baltimore County Police To Celebrate Pioneering Promotions, Reflecting Community Diversity

BALTIMORE COUNTY - The Baltimore County Police Department is set to make history with several groundbreaking promotions at a ceremony at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore this Thursday, September 14, at 6 p.m.

Captain Michael Cortes III, a 31-year veteran of the force, will be promoted to Major, making him the first Hispanic officer to achieve this rank in the department's 149-year history. Cortes already made department history when he became the department's first Hispanic Captain in 2016.

According to the Baltimore County Police Department, the promotion ceremony will be a family affair for Cortes, whose mother, younger sister, wife, and two sons—both aspiring law enforcement professionals—will be in attendance.

Kerri-Ann Lawrence is another trailblazer set to be honored at the event. Lawrence will be promoted to Lab Director of the Forensic Services Section, becoming the first Jamaican-born individual to hold this position within the Baltimore County Police Department. A 19-year veteran, Lawrence holds master's degrees in Intelligence Analysis from Johns Hopkins University and Forensic Science from National University. She has also served eight years in the U.S. Army and Maryland Army National Guard.

Twelve total women will be promoted as either sworn or professional staff members at the ceremony, reinforcing Chief Robert McCullough's ongoing commitment to ensuring that the police department more accurately reflects the ethnic and gender diversity of Baltimore County.

"Promoting individuals like Major Cortes and Director Lawrence showcases how hard work and dedication pay off in our department and underlines our commitment to fostering a diverse workforce," McCullough said.

The ceremony will recognize 40 sworn and eight professional staff members, celebrating their decades of service, experience, and dedication to keeping Baltimore County safe.

"These qualified leaders will ensure we maintain the highest level of service to our communities," McCullough added.

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