Lieutenant Colonel Kristal Turner-Childs was appointed as deputy commissioner of Staff for the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) on Tuesday. She is the first African American woman in the department’s 116-year history to attain the rank.
“Lieutenant Colonel Turner-Childs has worked her way up through the ranks and served the state police with valor for more than 20 years. Her exemplary service and commitment to protecting the public makes her extremely qualified for this leadership role,” Gov. Wolf said in the Pennsylvania Official website press release.
“My administration is committed to ensuring that our workforce is reflective of Pennsylvania’s diverse population and I’m thankful for the lieutenant colonel’s passion for helping all Pennsylvanians throughout her career,” the Governor added.
A native of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Turner-Childs enlisted in the PSP in February 1998 and was assigned to Troop J, Avondale after graduating from the academy. As she progressed through the ranks, Turner-Childs served as the first African-American female to command a troop when she was promoted to captain and assigned to Troop L, Reading in 2015.
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She served as director of the Bureau of Forensic Sciences where she became the second African American woman to obtain the rank of major in 2018. The Lieutenant also served in various roles at the York and Harrisburg stations and with the PSP Recruitment and Special Services Office.
Awards
She is also the recipient of numerous awards, including the Harrisburg Regional Chamber and CREDC Athena Award, NCBW Trailblazer Award, and the Greater Harrisburg YWCA Woman of Excellence Award.
Turner-Childs became the first person in her family to earn a college degree when she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Elizabethtown College in 2005.
As deputy commissioner of staff, Turner-Childs assists the commissioner in the development of policies and procedures to achieve maximum efficiency in functional responsibilities and to ensure optimal utilization of available resources.
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