Jennifer Y. Harris
Norfolk,VA
Summary
Dynamic emergency management professional with over 10 years of progressive law enforcement leadership experience, including a promotion to Senior Deputy. Proven success in reducing response times, enhancing operational readiness, and managing high-risk crisis operations within fast-paced, compliance-driven environments. Expertise in public safety, conflict resolution, and criminal investigations, consistently delivering results through collaboration and adaptability. Strong communicator and problem solver dedicated to maintaining community trust and ensuring justice, recognized for reliability and flexibility in addressing evolving challenges.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Deputy Sheriff
Chesapeake, VA Sheriff's Office
09.2017 - Current
- Promoted to Senior Deputy (Year 8) in recognition of leadership, operational excellence, and consistent high-performance in detention and emergency management operations.
- Coordinated and executed local emergency preparedness exercises, enhancing operational readiness for a variety of security threats and emergency scenarios, improving response time by 25%.
- Supervised and coordinated Master Control operations, ensuring accurate inmate movement tracking, security monitoring, and real-time communication between housing units and command staff.
- Managed facility data entry, documentation, and records management, maintaining precise and confidential reports in compliance with state and departmental regulations.
- Utilized Microsoft Excel to oversee inventory tracking and property accountability systems, improving accuracy in asset management, reducing discrepancies, and strengthening audit compliance.
- Led crisis response initiatives, de-escalating incidents without force 80% of the time, demonstrating expertise in conflict resolution and situational awareness.
- Prepared comprehensive reports and briefings on safety improvements, inventory accountability, and operational changes, promoting transparency and driving adherence to safety regulations, reducing incident response time by 30%.
- Collaborated with senior law enforcement officials and external agencies to streamline interagency coordination during transport operations, improving operational efficiency by 15% and fostering stronger communication during joint efforts.
Deputy Sheriff
Norfolk, VA Sheriff's Office
11.2015 - 09.2017
- Supported implementation of security protocols during local emergency preparedness drills, contributing to a 20% improvement in response times during simulated incidents.
- Applied facility emergency procedures in daily operations, helping reduce inmate altercations by 80% through proactive monitoring and early intervention.
- Accurately documented incidents and assisted supervisors with after-action reviews, contributing to procedural adjustments that improved response efficiency by 30%.
- Worked collaboratively with shift teams to maintain safe housing operations, contributing to a 15% improvement in communication and coordinated response efforts during high-pressure situations.
Education
Master of Arts - Management (MA) Concentration: Organizational Crisis Management
American Military University
Charles Town, WV06-2027
Bachelor of Arts - Emergency and Disaster Management
American Military University
Charles Town, WV12-2022
Skills
- Emergency Operations Planning
- Incident Command (ICS/NIMS)
- Crisis Response
- Risk Assessment
- Continuity of Operations (COOP)
- Interagency Coordination
- Operational Reporting
- Data & Inventory Management
- Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving
- Crisis Response & Situational Awareness
- Data Management & Organizational Skills
- Policy Review & Continuous Improvement
- Remote-Ready Communication & Collaboration
- Leadership & Team Support
- Adaptability & Technical Proficiency
- Incident response
Accomplishments
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Supervised a team of 5 staff members.
Certification
- ICS 100, 200, 700, 800
- OSHA 10 & 30
- Hazardous Materials Awareness Public Assistance Program & Eligibility
- Leadership & Influence
Timeline
Deputy Sheriff
Chesapeake, VA Sheriff's Office
09.2017 - Current
Deputy Sheriff
Norfolk, VA Sheriff's Office
11.2015 - 09.2017
Bachelor of Arts - Emergency and Disaster Management
American Military University
Master of Arts - Management (MA) Concentration: Organizational Crisis Management
American Military University
Deputy of the Month
recognized as Deputy of the Month for October 2025 due to exceptional performance and dedication to duty.