Col. McGovern: Leadership is key in a crisis

Speaking during the Women Elected Municipal Officials luncheon on the first day of the MMA Annual Meeting on Jan. 20, State Police Superintendent Marian McGovern asserted that leaders are defined by how they act in a crisis.

“The measure of a leader is not how he or she leads in moments of comfort and convenience, but how he or she leads in moments of challenge and controversy,” she said, paraphrasing a quotation from Martin Luther King Jr.

McGovern downplayed the significance of being the first female leader of the state police, a position she has held for the past two years. But she did note that when she joined the organization in 1979, she was one of just three women. She said that although she faced no overt discrimination, she did at times encounter a “stony silence” from officers who didn’t believe that women belonged in police work.

A solid majority of the men, however, treated her and her female colleagues with respect, and gave them time to prove themselves, McGovern said.

She went on to hold many jobs, including trooper, executive officer in the Detective Unit, and commanding officer of the department’s media relations unit. She is credited with launching the state’s Amber Alert system and creating a protocol for training child-abuse investigators.

McGovern said she never expected to end up in charge of the nation’s oldest law enforcement agency, which traces its roots to 1865.

“I kept my nose down, worked hard, and paid attention to details,” she said, citing her Irish mother as a mentor.

She also stressed the need to “adapt [to] and overcome” tough economic conditions by promoting change and innovation. In addition to surrounding oneself with colleagues who have fresh ways of thinking, McGovern recommends making use of new technology.

The State Police Department, she said, is teaming up with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to help evaluate issues related to officer safety. One of the biggest threats, according to McGovern, is being struck by motorists in the break-down lane when they are responding to disabled vehicles or accidents. Everything from the reflective gear officers wear to how they approach cars is under review.

“The results we hope, will be safer protocols for all officers across this nation when they’re out on the road,” McGovern said.

The department also recently took part in a sleep-study program with Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. While the study found that the Massachusetts State Police have a lower rate of sleep apnea than most large departments, screenings are still warranted, she said.

These projects “are examples of how we’re trying to be innovative in key areas,” McGovern said. “We would not have been able to do either study very effectively if we tried to do it by ourselves.”

McGovern said she makes it a point to reach out to troopers who have performed in ways that benefit the community. She also said she recognizes people who work on behalf of the department in clerical or maintenance roles.

State Auditor Suzanne Bump, who spoke briefly during the WEMO luncheon, also emphasized the need for strong leadership. At a time when trust in government is low, setting a positive tone is important, Bump said.