UNITED STATES PARK POLICE

PRESS RELEASE

U.S. PARK POLICE ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF CHIEF ROBERT E. LANGSTON

Chief Robert E. Langston will retire from the United States Park Police on Saturday, April 7, 2001, after more than 35 years of dedicated and faithful service. 

Chief Langston, a longtime veteran of the U.S. Park Police, was appointed Chief of Police in September 1991.

 As Chief of one of the Nation’s oldest law enforcement agencies, he is responsible for a force of officers and civilian employees assigned to National Park Service lands, parkways, monuments, and memorials in the greater Washington, DC, area, the Gateway National Recreation Area, including the Statue of Liberty in New York, and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including the Presidio, in California.  Members of the Force also serve as law enforcement specialists in the National Park Service Field Areas; In addition, members are detailed to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick, Georgia.

 Chief Langston’s law enforcement career spans more than 35 years and includes operational, managerial, and administrative experience.  A graduate of Florida State University with a B.S. in Police Administration, he began his U.S. Park Police career in August 1965 as a patrolman covering foot, cruiser, and motorcycle beats.  Upon promotion to Sergeant in 1971, he was assigned to the Training Branch, then to the Operations Division as a Patrol Sergeant, followed by duty as a Motorcycle Unit supervisor.  Promoted to Lieutenant in 1973, he served as a Shift Commander before assuming command of the Communications Section.  In 1975 he was promoted to Captain, first serving as a Watch Commander and then assigned to the National Park Service’s Southeast Region headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, where he served as a Law Enforcement Specialist.  After 2 years, he returned to Washington, DC, to the Operations Division as Commander of the Central District.  Upon promotion to Major in 1982, he saw duty at the National Park Service’s Headquarters until his 1984 promotion to Deputy Chief in charge of the Field Offices Division.  Prior to his promotion to Assistant Chief in 1988, Langston also headed the Operations Division.

 Active in numerous civic and professional organizations, the Washington, DC, native is a member and past chairman of the Police Chiefs Steering Committee for the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments, a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the D.C. Law Enforcement Executive Forum, the FBI National Executive Institute-Police Executive Research Forum, and a former president of the FBI National Academy Associates, District of Columbia Chapter.  He is also a member and past president of the Board of Directors, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, and a past member of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Board.  He has received numerous awards and honors for his professional contributions.

 Chief Langston and his wife, Beverly, reside in Potomac, Maryland.  They have two children, a son Robert and a daughter Kellie. 

A retirement ceremony is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 6, 2001, at the United States Park Police Headquarters building in East Potomac Park, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW., Washington, DC  20024.  The media is welcome to attend and cover this ceremony; however, please contact Sergeant Rob MacLean if you plan on attending. Chief Langston will also be available for interviews concerning his retirement prior to April 6.  Please contact Sergeant Rob MacLean to coordinate interviews.

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Last up dated  03/03/06 03:24 PM by vej