Police Director Search

Dr. Joel Fitzgerald was born in Philadelphia, PA, in 1971, and was educated at the historic Overbrook High School. He is a graduate of Villanova University (B.A.) in Liberal Arts, Eastern University (M.B.A.), and Northcentral University, where he earned a Ph.D. in Business Administration.

Dr. Fitzgerald joined the City of Philadelphia Police Department and served in various ranks before his 2009 selection to serve as Chief of Police in Missouri City, TX. In 2013, he became Chief of Police in the Allentown, PA, where he served until 2015. From 2015-2019, he served as a major city Chief of Police in Fort Worth, TX. In 2020, he joined the City of Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office as Chief Deputy, until accepting appointment to his current position as Chief of Police in Waterloo, IA.

In each of the four positions where he served as police chief, Dr. Fitzgerald’s selection was the result of competitive national search processes, and all the appointments made him the first African American in that rank in the history of the organizations. As a result, his history reflects a commitment to conceptual leadership that promotes procedural justice and evidence-based strategies to abate crime. Dr. Fitzgerald  intentionally invests in an organizational direction grounded in the sanctity of life and other tenets of 21st Century Policing to shift police service delivery to more inclusive models that address the diverse needs of all stakeholders.

Dr. Fitzgerald has been a member of numerous professional associations: MCCA, NOBLE, PERF, the NAACP, and IACP. He is a graduate of Harvard University Senior Executives in State and Local Government, the FBI National Academy-National Executive Institute, Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, and PERF-SMIP program(s).

In 2019, Dr. Fitzgerald became an elected member of the FBI LEEDA Executive Board.

Samuel Hines began his career with the Memphis Police Department on September 30, 1991. Upon completion of recruit training on February 15, 1992, he was assigned to Uniform Patrol at the South Precinct. Additionally, he worked in the Organized Crime Unit and helped form the first gang unit GRIT (Gang Response and Intervention Team).  In 1995, assigned to the Memphis Police Academy as a Firearms Instructor, and in August 1997, completed the Memphis Police TACT Unit School. In 1998, he was assigned to the TACT Unit and became a member of the Entry & Assault Team and Firearms Instructor.

In 2000, Officer Hines was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and assigned to General Assignment Bureau. Later, he was reassigned to the Firearms Training Unit as an Operations and Administrative Sergeant. From October 2004 – December 2005, he was deployed to Iraq with the TN Army National Guard and was the recipient of a Bronze Star. In 2006, Sergeant Hines resumed his duties with the MPD. In 2008, he was assigned Mayor’s Dignitary Protection Team Supervisor and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.  In 2008, he was promoted to Major and later assigned Commander of the TACT Unit. In 2014, he assigned to Traffic and Special Operations as Assistant Commander and rank of Acting LTC.

Acting LTC Hines was appointed to the rank of Colonel in 2016 and assigned Commander of Mt. Moriah Station and in 2017, he was assigned Commander of Traffic Special Operations. In June 2019, Colonel Hines was appointed to the rank of Deputy Chief.  Deputy Chief Hines has over 29 years of service with the Memphis Police Department. He holds a BS Degree from Alabama A&M University and a MBA from Christian Brothers University. He is a graduate of the FBI NA Session 248.

Deputy Chief Michael Shearin has over 25 years of service with the Memphis Police Department.

Deputy Chief Shearin began his career with the Memphis Police Department in 1995 and was assigned to Uniform Patrol at the West Precinct. As a patrol officer, he worked various assignments, including the West Precinct, the Robbery Bureau and the U.S. Secret Service Counterfeit Crimes Task Force.

Working his way through the ranks, Deputy Chief Shearin was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2003 and was assigned to the Memphis Police Department Training Academy and the Research and Development Unit.

In 2005, Deputy Chief Shearin was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. As a lieutenant, he was assigned as the manager of the Accreditation Unit and helped guide the Memphis Police Department through its first successful national accreditation. He was then assigned to the Organized Crime Unit where he oversaw administrative duties and the financial component of the Organized Crime Unit. In 2010, he became the Assistant Commander of the Organized Crime Unit as an acting Major.

In 2011, he was assigned to the Robbery Bureau, and in 2013, he was assigned to the Old Allen Station as a supervisor of the General Investigative Bureau.

In 2013, Deputy Chief Shearin was promoted to the rank of Major. As a major, he was the Commander of the Old Allen Station Bravo Shift and the General Investigative Bureau.

In 2015, he became the Assistant Commander of the Old Allen Station as the acting Lieutenant Colonel.

In 2016, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and continued to serve as the Assistant Commander of the Old Allen Station.

In 2017,  he was appointed to the rank of Deputy Chief and he currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Investigative Services.

Deputy Chief Hampton has served the citizens of Memphis for over 34 years. Rising through the ranks of the Department from a Police Service Technician to the Deputy Chief of Administrative Services, she has experienced a diverse and extensive career that includes Patrol and Investigative Services.

In 1986, Deputy Chief Hampton began her patrol career at the East Precinct. She also worked in the Vice Squad and Specialized Patrol Unit and served as a Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Officer. In 1996, she was promoted to Sergeant. As a sergeant, she worked in Sex Crimes and Child Abuse, Felony Response, Burglary, Organized Crime Unit, the Criminal Apprehension Team, and the Investigative Support Unit.

In 2002, she was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. As a lieutenant, she worked in the Sex Crimes Bureau, at the Northeast and Downtown Precincts, the Burglary Bureau, and the Organized Crime Unit.

In 2008, she was promoted to Major and became the Assistant Commander of the Organized Crime Unit. Later, she was transferred as the Commander to the Inspectional Services Bureau. In 2009, she was promoted to the rank of Colonel and was assigned Commander of the Mt. Moriah Station.

In 2016, she was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief. As deputy chief, she has overseen the Investigative Services Bureau and is currently the Deputy Chief of Administrative Services.

Over the years, Deputy Chief Hampton oversaw the following Task Forces: Child Exploitation, United States Marshalls Mid-South Fugitive, Joint Terrorism, Safe Streets, United States Secret Service, and Economic Crimes. Additionally, she led the following units: Crime Scene, Domestic & Economic Crimes, Felony Response, Homicide, Missing Persons, Sex Crimes/Juvenile Abuse, and the Violent Crimes Unit.

Deputy Chief Hampton is a graduate of the University of Tennessee and Hamilton High School.

Anne Kirkpatrick started her policing career in 1982 in the Memphis Police Department. During her 38 years in policing, she has been with eight agencies, four as a Chief of Police. She has a BA in Business Administration, a Master’s in Counseling, a Law degree and she has been a licensed attorney for 30 years.  Chief Kirkpatrick is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the FBI’s National Executive Institute. She has been on the National Board of the Crime Gun Intelligence and a member of PER and Major Cities Police Chiefs.

Deputy Commissioner Sullivan is a temporarily retired, 38-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police. In 2017, he was appointed to the rank of Deputy Commissioner. He commanded Patrol Operations where he oversaw 4,648 sworn and professional employees, 21 patrol districts, Community Relations, Victim Services/Hate Crimes, PAL, Crossing Guards, the Comp-Stat process, and gun violence strategies. He also served as the department liaison to the ADL, the Jewish Federation, the LGBTQ community, Philadelphia Fire/OEM, and the Mayor’s multi-agency opioid task force.

As Chief of Homeland Security, he was responsible for all tactical units, the JTTF, the Airport, Civil Affairs, Dignitary, Hostage Negotiations, Traffic, sports complex operations, Mounted, K-9, Aviation, Marine and Accident Investigations. He served as Incident Commander at all major incidents including demonstrations and those requiring homeland security planning and/or tactical intervention, often working in concert with mental health partners, applying proven de-escalation techniques to ensure peaceful resolutions. He also served as liaison to the FBI, HSI and TSA.

In 2016, Deputy Commissioner Sullivan was charged with planning and oversight for all demonstrations, tactical deployment, traffic control, motorcades, and the delegate transportation system for the DNC and in 2018, executed the same responsibilities for the Eagles Superbowl Victory Parade and the NFL Draft.

As the Chief of Training, he served as a member of the Pennsylvania Police Training and Education Commission and was responsible for development of the active shooter and tourniquet/gunshot distribution programs and oversaw the development of active shooter training for city medics.

Deputy Commissioner Sullivan holds a BA from Penn State, an MA from St. Joseph’s University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and a participant in the 2015 FBI Leaders in Counter Terrorism Program in Scotland.

He serves as president and board member for Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation.

Seattle Police Department Assistant Chief (ret.) Perry Tarrant’s policing career has focused on leadership. He attributes his crime reduction successes to collaborating with neighborhood residents and effective community policing. He has built relationships and bonds with communities and businesses for safer cities and is a recipient of the Robert Lamb Humanitarian Award. Assistant Chief Tarrant has been an evaluator for The National Network for Safe Cities.

Assistant Chief Tarrant was recruited into Seattle Police Department as part of a leadership change during a Department of Justice Consent Decree and supported compliance with its mandates. Perry had command, control, or oversight of 300 demonstrations and security planning of 1,200 special events annually. He certified as a FEMA Incident Commander and instructor, having commanded a multi-discipline police-fire Incident Management Team during disaster responses and National Significant Safety Events (NSSE). He has provided Incident Command System training and was executive leadership for Super Bowl IXL and other NSSEs.

Currently, Assistant Chief Tarrant is an expert witness for police tactics in officer-involved shootings and in-custody death cases. He has experience as the principal investigator and executive reviewer in scores of these types of incidents. As such, he has made training, tactics, and policy changes to his organizations as well as an external reviewer and contractor for others. He consults as a subject-matter expert for law enforcement agencies, courts, and other sectors in the Criminal Justice system.

Assistant Chief Tarrant is a Past President of the National Organization of Black Law Executives. He has been engaged with youth organizations in the community. He is a board member for a juvenile detention alternative organization and a pilot/mentor for the Red Tail Hawks Youth Flying club.

Certifications: Master of Public Administration Leadership; Graduate Certificate Criminal Justice Studies; FBI National Academy; Senior Management Institute for Police; NOBLE CEO Mentoring.

Durham Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis has over 33 years of experience in the law enforcement profession. She began her career with the City of Atlanta Police Department where she learned the importance of forging relationships with Atlanta’s diverse community. She was assigned to a variety of specialized assignments as a young patrol officer and quickly moved through the ranks working as an Investigator in Licenses & Permits, supervisor in Background & Recruitment, Special Victims, Executive Officer to the Chief, Public Affairs, Homeland Security & Organized Crime. As a Commander she led the Special Operations Section, which included SWAT, Mounted Patrol, Motors, Helicopter Unit, Vice & Narcotics, REDDOG Unit, all Federal Task Force Officers, HIDTA Task Force, Cyber Crimes, Gangs & Guns and the Surveillance Unit. In addition, she was the Internal Affairs Commander, Airport Section Asst. Commander, and served on Executive Loan as a Project Manager to the Mayor’s Office. After her promotion to Deputy Chief, she led the Strategies & Special Projects Division, overseeing the Department’s new Video Integration Center (VIC), a real time crime center where she ensured more than 3000 public and private sector cameras were included in the citywide network. Also, under her leadership was Planning & Research, Accreditation (CALEA), the Atlanta Police Leadership Institute (APLI), capital projects, facility improvements and more. Davis retired in June, 2016 to accept the position of Chief of Police for the City of Durham, NC. Since her appointment to Chief of Police, Davis has made great strides towards improving the Durham Police Department’s outreach and crime reduction efforts by building trust between citizens and law enforcement, and fostering sustainable partnerships with key stakeholders. 

Chief Davis is a graduate of the 225th Session of the National FBI Academy, and completed senior management training at the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) in Boston, MA. Chief Davis has experienced training opportunities abroad at the Emergency Preparedness College in York, England, and as a participant in a leadership exchange session with the Israel National Police. 

She is the Immediate Past President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), and recently testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on the matter of Police Reform, in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd. She has since been featured on Good Morning America, CNN, and other networks as a subject matter expert on this important topic. She serves on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and has been appointed to North Carolina Governor, Roy Cooper’s Racial Equity in Criminal Justice Task Force. 

Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards and commendations, to include Atlanta Police Supervisor of the Year, and featured in OPRAH ‘O’ Magazine as winner of the “Women Rule” competition, where she was recognized for establishing a women’s mentoring initiative entitled, “Sisters-In-Law.” In 2013, she was featured in Atlanta’s Women Looking Ahead Magazine as one of Georgia’s 100 Most Influential Women 

Davis has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s degree in General Administration. She is the proud wife of a very supportive husband, Terry Davis, (retired law enforcement) for 27 years, and mother of one daughter, Chaun, who resides in Brooklyn, NY.