When the board of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA or Metro) authorized her appointment as the chief of the agency’s police department’s guns training range, Salicia Belton made history. According to Metro officials, Belton is the first woman and the first African American to hold that position.
The 51-year-old told The Washington Informer “I am in charge of the agency’s weapons and ammunition range. It is a multimillion-dollar operation. I also oversee training officers on how to use their weapons, maintenance of the range, working within its budget, and seeing that it is well supplied.”
Before joining the Metro Police Department, the trailblazing lady worked at a bank and in construction. Prior to joining her present organization, the 1991 Eastern High School alumnus stated that her career objective was to work in law enforcement.
She mentioned that she opted to work with Metro because she appreciates the work and the challenges it brings. Because Metro is a tri-jurisdictional agency, she believes an officer must be qualified and obedient to the laws of D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Belton revealed her responsibilities, saying that there are days when training cops and special officers take center stage. She explained that she is in charge of training the agency’s SWAT-style “Metro Special Response Team.” She also fills out paperwork for the agency and the three areas where Metro cops are stationed.
Belton operates the range as both a personal and professional goal. “If someone is missing, I fill in on the job,” she said. “If a weapon is broken or doesn’t work, I make it my business to fix it.”
Randy Clarke, the CEO and general manager of Metro, agreed with the board’s decision to select Belton. He praised her performance at Metro.
“I find her to be professional and good at what she does. Belton embodies the idea of servant leadership, and I think the Metro board made the right decision in hiring her for that position,” he said.
Belton asserted that, as far as she is aware, she is the only Black woman and range master employed by a law enforcement organization in the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia.