Bethany Couturier has known she wanted to be a Maine State trooper since she was 12 years old.
Her uncle was a state trooper, and she knew the agency was where she wanted to be, she told the Bangor Daily News.
More than 20 years later, Couturier is the first female commander of the state police’s Training Unit. She was promoted to the position and lieutenant on Jan. 13. Couturier joins two other women as commanding officers within Maine State Police.
This is the first time three women have been commanding officers at the same time, spokesperson Shannon Moss said.
Couturier didn’t learn she was the first woman to hold that role until she saw a Facebook post from state police.
“It’s cool being first,” Couturier said. “First for anything is meaningful, but it really isn’t about being the first woman. For me it’s just about being able to be the right fit for the job.”
Being noted in history and knowing someone may read it decades from now is neat, she said.
But, she added, making history does not define who she is in the role.
As a sergeant, she was assigned to assist with the Maine Basic Law Enforcement Training Program and State Police training in 2025. The role was a good fit and she applied for the open lieutenant spot when someone else was promoted.
Couturier graduated from state police training in 2008 and patrolled Waldo County for 17 years before being promoted to corporal and then sergeant in 2020.
In her free time, Couturier coaches her daughter’s middle school soccer team. She uses the lessons from training law enforcement to teach the young teens self discipline, accountability and physical fitness.
The middle schoolers aren’t coached “like a military school,” but Couturier said she does the conditioning with them to set an example.
“My position here opens doors for them to normalize women in these types of positions and if that’s something they want to pursue then that’s awesome,” she said.
Growing up on a farm helped prepare Couturier for the physical requirements of being a trooper. She made sure she qualified at the men’s standard so no one could even whisper about her maybe not being as strong.
Her parents also helped shape her, with her dad teaching her discipline and hard work ethic while her mom made sure she never lost sight of people’s humanity while balancing raising a family.
Throughout her career with state police, Couturier said she’s worked with amazing people, many of whom have become great friends.
“I always throughout my entire career have never tried to stand out differently because of my gender,” she said. “Like all our troopers and everyone in this, we’re all here to do the same job — but everyone starts out as a trooper.”