Warden LaMonte Cooke was recognized by Governor Wes Moore during the Maryland Correctional Administrators Association (MCAA) Awards Ceremony and Banquet for his extraordinary career in corrections and public service.

Governor Moore attended the annual banquet to honor Correctional Administrators and correctional employees from across Maryland. During the ceremony, the governor presented a special citation to Warden Cooke in recognition of his 51 years of dedicated and outstanding service in public safety. Warden Cooke made history as the first African American deputy in Kent County and is recognized as the longest-serving local corrections officer in the State of Maryland. The governor’s citation also recognized his professionalism, expertise, commitment, and lasting impact on the field of corrections.

The event marked a historic milestone for the association, as Governor Moore became the first Maryland governor to attend an MCAA Awards Banquet in 49 years.

“Warden LaMonte Cooke’s recognition is a tremendous honor and a testament to a lifetime of dedicated public service, said Commission President Jim Moran. “We are incredibly proud to have him as part of Team Queen Anne’s County. LaMonte has set a standard of excellence that few can match. I congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition and thank him for his extraordinary service.”

LaMonte Cooke, a resident of Chestertown, Maryland, began his career in law enforcement in 1975 as Kent County’s first African American Deputy Sheriff. He joined Queen Anne’s County in 1987 and has served as Warden of the Queen Anne’s County Detention Center ever since. Throughout his distinguished career, he has received numerous honors and accolades. Recent recognitions include the 2023 Frederick Douglass Achievement Award, the renaming of the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Professional Recognition Award to the LaMonte Cooke County Service Award, and his selection as Grand Marshal of the 2026 Chestertown Tea Party Festival.

Join us in congratulating Warden LaMonte Cooke on this well-deserved recognition. His years of dedicated public service, commitment to public safety, and lasting impact on the corrections profession have made a difference in countless lives. We invite the community to join us in celebrating Warden LaMonte Cooke’s remarkable accomplishments and thanking him for his decades of service to the citizens of Queen Anne’s County and the State of Maryland.

Photo Caption: Governor Wes Moore presents a citation to Warden LaMonte Cooke recognizing 51 years of dedicated service in corrections during the Maryland Correctional Administrators Association Awards Ceremony and Banquet. Photo credit, Governor Moore’s Office