LaTonya Lewis is shattering glass ceilings for all black women. On Thursday, Lewis became the first black woman to be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the history of the Baltimore Police Department. She is now the department's highest-ranking black woman.
“I’ll be responsible for communications, the watch center, RMS, as well as information technology, and my goal will be to support patrol and make sure that they have up-to-date technology in a timely fashion,” Lewis told CBS News.
Lewis has worked with the Baltimore Police Department for nearly 21 years.
Among organizational changes announced today, Comm. De Sousa promoted LaTonya Lewis to Lieutenant Colonel. She is the highest ranking African-American female in the history of the @BaltimorePolice Dept. #BlackHistoryMonth2018
pic.twitter.com/wwZT9Ywqiq— T.J. Smith (@TJSmithMedia) February 8, 2018
Commissioner-designate Darryl De Sousa announced Lewis' promotion along with multiple changes within the Baltimore police department, he shared at a press conference Thursday morning.
He also shared that Violet Hill Whyte was the first black person appointed to the Baltimore department in 1937. However, she did not reach the same ranking height as Lt. Col. Lewis.
"The highest rank that she ascended to was Lieutenant…" De Sousa said.
