Harford Sheriff Jeff Gahler takes office; announces top staff appointments

Spread the love

Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler sworn into office
Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler sworn into office

Sheriff Jeffrey R. Gahler officially took office as the Sheriff of the Harford County on Dec. 1, 2014. Each part of the ceremony was carried out by a sworn member the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, representing all ranks.

Clerk of the Circuit Court, James Reilly, administered the Oath to Sheriff Gahler and all sworn members of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, with Sheriff Gahler’s family standing by his side.

During the Sheriff’s speech, he offered his thanks to everyone who helped him along his journey to become Sheriff, putting an emphasis on his family and friends. Sheriff Gahler also recognized the great men who held the office of Sheriff in prior years, saying “it is my hope that I can make each of these men proud, as I follow in the path they have forged.”

During his speech tonight, he rounded out the Command Staff when he named Major John (Jack) R. Simpson to the Administrative Services Bureau, Major William Davis to the Police Operations Bureau, and finally, Major Michael Gullion to the Correctional Services Bureau. Last month, he announced the first two key appointments to his Command Staff; Colonel Steven Bodway and Warden Michael Capasso. Each has extensive experience in law enforcement and corrections. Specifically:

Major John (Jack) R. Simpson – Administrative Services Bureau

Jack Simpson retired as a Major from the Maryland State Police serving for twenty-eight (28) years. As a command officer, he led the Criminal Investigation Division, the Special Operations Command, a Barrack, a Troop consisting of multiple Barracks and two Regions consisting of all Field Operations installations, which included tactical, patrol, investigations and Community Policing components. Major Simpson was the Assistant Chief for the Support Services Bureau which included Licensing and Regulatory components.

Major Simpson has a B.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland University College and a M.S. in Management from Johns Hopkins University, graduating from their Police Executive Leadership Program. Prior to this appointment, Major Simpson served as the Executive Director of the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council and an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice for the University Of Maryland University College.

Major William Davis – Police Operations Bureau

William Davis most recently served as the Assistant Director of Public Safety for the Community College of Baltimore County. Prior to his appointment with the Community College of Baltimore County, he served as a Major in the Baltimore Police Department and Commanding Officer for the Southeastern District. In this position, Major Davis oversaw the daily police operations of more than 200 officers, sergeants, lieutenants and civilian personnel. His responsibilities included the development and deployment of crime prevention and response strategies as well as cultivating and sustaining solid partnerships with community and business leaders within the City of Baltimore.

Over the course of twenty-five (25) years with the Baltimore Police Department, Major Davis worked in a variety of roles, progressing from patrol assignments to criminal investigative positions. These included working on federal task forces and as the commanding officer of district detectives and operations units.

Major Davis holds a MS in Management from The Johns Hopkins University and currently serves adjunct faculty in The Johns Hopkins University’s Division of Public Safety Leadership. Major Davis is also a recent graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police.

Major Michael Gullion – Correctional Service Bureau

Michael Gullion currently serves as the Support Services Commander at the Harford County Detention Center. During the course of his twenty-two (22) year career, he has served as Commander of two divisions within Corrections. As Operations Commander, he was responsible for 116 staff to include Security Operations, Gang Intel Unit, Correctional Response Team and K9 Unit. As Inter Agency Processing Center Commander, he supervised 45 staff members who were responsible for the processing, booking, release, and transportation of all inmates who are processed through the Harford County Detention Center. As Training Coordinator, he developed and coordinated the first Correctional Entrance Level Academy to proactively address the multitude of issues that face the Correctional staff on a daily basis.

In addressing the needs of inmates with mental illness, Major Gullion is a Crisis Intervention Team member and is currently serving as the security liaison for the Behavioral Health Unit in order to provide for a safer correctional environment for all. He has also served on numerous community organization advisory boards, which provides the community a proactive understanding of corrections in Harford County and provides a community corrections approach to the Harford County Detention Center. Major Gullion has completed both the Harford Leadership Academy and the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Center Leadership Challenge, and served as a mentor to other sessions.

Sheriff Gahler spoke of the changes and reduction of the number of Majors and Bureaus being a response to an initial assessment of the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. He has directed that the number of Bureaus be reduced from five to four and that there be a reduction in the number of majors from five to three. This top to bottom review of the organizational structure of the Office of the Sheriff will better address emerging crime patterns and trends, reduce crime, and improve quality of life through citizen partnerships. Sheriff Gahler will continue his assessment of the Office and efforts will be directed at reducing violent crimes and increasing the safety and security of our friends and neighbors. Sheriff Gahler assured the crowd saying, “The Sheriff’s Office is a productive and professional law enforcement organization that is dedicated to the community’s needs. Our goal moving forward will be to build on crime reduction, crime prevention, community partnerships and professional standards. You do not deserve, and I will not accept, the status quo.”

Sheriff Gahler closed the event by telling his deputies, “from my new commanders and I, we vow to ensure that the Harford County Sheriff’s Office is simply the finest organization that you always hoped it would be and a place that will inspire and instill confidence in you each and every day.”

  • Sheriff Gahler spoke of the changes and reduction of the number of Majors and Bureaus being a response to an initial assessment of the Harford County Sheriff's Office. He has directed that the number of Bureaus be reduced from five to four and that there be a reduction in the number of majors from five to three. This top to bottom review of the organizational structure of the Office of the Sheriff will better address emerging crime patterns and trends, reduce crime, and improve quality of life through citizen partnerships. Sheriff Gahler will continue his assessment of the Office and efforts will be directed at reducing violent crimes and increasing the safety and security of our friends and neighbors. Sheriff Gahler assured the crowd saying, "The Sheriff's Office is a productive and professional law enforcement organization that is dedicated to the community's needs. Our goal moving forward will be to build on crime reduction, crime prevention, community partnerships and professional standards. You do not deserve, and I will not accept, the status quo."

Spread the love

Leave a Reply