Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf appointed Kristal Turner-Childs as deputy commissioner of staff for the Pennsylvania State Police, making her the first Black woman in the role.  

A Harrisburg native, Turner-Childs first joined the state police in 1998 and eventually became the first African American woman to command a troop.  

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Turner-Childs then moved into the director of Bureau of Forensic Sciences position where she was only the second Black woman promoted to the rank of major.  

“Her exemplary service and commitment to protecting the public makes her extremely qualified for this leadership role,” Wolf said in a press release. 

She received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2005, becoming the first college graduate in her family. The newly-appointed police commissioner also holds a master’s degree from the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the FBI National Academy.  

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“My mentality has always been to help and serve the department and the diverse communities of the commonwealth,” Turner-Childs said. “I am honored to be the first African-American Deputy Commissioner of Staff and hope the appointment inspires others to pursue their passions.”