'Offensive' Coins With Maryland State Police Logo Linked To Ex-Trooper

MARYLAND — Maryland State Police announced Wednesday that an ex-trooper is responsible for designing and manufacturing challenge coins depicting words and images some have deemed offensive.

The challenge coins in question depict female genitalia emblazoned with the Maryland State Police logo. One side of it reads, "These p-----s can't take a pounding." The other side reads, "Generation Butt Hurt" and "I'm offended."

Police said that trooper behind the vulgar coins left the agency in 2012.

Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police issued the following statement after an internal investigation:

Although it has been determined a current member of the Maryland State Police was not involved in the manufacture of this item, I am still disgusted to know that anyone who wore this uniform would create something that demeans others and disregards our core values and all this Department stands for.

This action has disrupted our efforts to improve relationships among all our employees and with the citizens we serve. I remain committed to ensuring the fair and equitable treatment of all employees and to upholding the tradition and reputation of excellence in police services the Maryland State Police has been known for during the past century.

The actions of this former employee have reflected unfavorably on this Department and undermine all the good and honorable work our troopers provide to Maryland citizens each day. I condemn his callous and careless actions and the actions of all who may consider similar disrespectful conduct somehow acceptable.

Some Black troopers told NBC 4, which was the first news outlet to report the story, that they believe the coin is retaliation against their complaints about alleged racism and discrimination within the department.

"They are using the Maryland state brand to circulate these things, so something needs to be done, and it needs to be done now," Rodney Morris, former president of the Coalition of Maryland State Troopers, told the TV station.

Ryan Coleman, president of the Randallstown NAACP branch, told The Baltimore Sun that troopers who saw the coin felt it was an attempt to "downplay the plight of minority and women troopers at the state police."

This is not the first time the circulation of a challenge coin has raised eyebrows. According to NBC 4, a challenge coin shaped like male genitalia featuring the Maryland State Police logo and offensive language was circulated in 2021. A trooper was reportedly disciplined for it.