North Las Vegas City Manager Ryann Juden today announced the appointment of Assistant Chief Jacqueline Gravatt as the City of North Las Vegas’ new Chief of Police, and the promotion of Captain Michael Harris, a 20-year North Las Vegas Police Department veteran, to Assistant Chief of the North Las Vegas Police Department.
“Chief Gravatt is a tremendous leader, and we very quickly recognized her potential and capacity to innovate within our police department,” Juden said. “Chief Gravatt and Assistant Chief Harris have been key in developing and expanding community policing and citizen engagement initiatives that have helped bring North Las Vegas’ crime rate down 35 percent from a decade ago.”
Chief Gravatt joined the North Las Vegas Police Department in September 2001 and was the first African-American woman in the Department to serve as a patrol officer. Prior to her appointment as Chief, Gravatt served as Assistant Chief and had previously worked in and supervised multiple divisions of the Police Department, including patrol, the detective division, internal affairs and operations. She graduated from the FBI’s National Academy Session 272 in 2018.
“It is an honor to lead this Department that has been my home for the past 20 years,” Gravatt said. “To be able to help grow the next generation of leaders and helpers is an incredible privilege, one Assistant Chief Harris and I take very seriously. Our officers and civilian team members do an amazing job, they go out every day with such heart and commitment to service, and you’ve seen the results.”
Assistant Chief Harris joined the North Las Vegas Police Department in February 2002 as a patrol officer. He previously served as Captain of the Operations Support Command, where he oversaw training, recruiting, crime analysis, community engagement and community-oriented policing. In his two-decade career with the City, Harris has also been assigned to NLVPD’s patrol, SWAT, traffic, training and narcotics divisions. Before joining the Department, Harris served in the United States Marine Corps and the Nevada Army National Guard.
“This is such an exciting time to be a part of the North Las Vegas Police Department,” Harris said. “As we grow to meet the needs of our growing community, new recruits are seeking out our Department to be able to serve in such a proactive and engaged environment, where constituents come first and we can be out in the community assisting and keeping people and property safe.”
Gravatt had served as Acting Chief of Police since January, when former Police Chief Pamela Ojeda retired after 26 years with the North Las Vegas Police Department.
About NLVPD
The North Las Vegas Police Department engages with the community to work collaboratively to provide a safe, secure and enjoyable community for all. When not on patrol, officers coach sports leagues, speak in schools, meet with residents and businesses, and host community events. As a result of the Department’s proactive approach, crime rates have dropped significantly in North Las Vegas, including a 23 percent year-over-year decrease in violent crime. Recent NLVPD initiatives include 30 by 30 to recruit more female officers, and expanding the NLVPD Police Explorer’s and Volunteers in Police Service programs.
About the City of North Las Vegas:
North Las Vegas stretches across the northern rim of the Las Vegas Valley and is home to more than 275,000 residents. As a premier place to live, work and play, North Las Vegas leads the valley in new home development while maintaining a longstanding tradition of successful economic development in a business-friendly environment. The City of North Las Vegas’ fast and faster approach has made the city a top destination in the country for development opportunities. North Las Vegas is a hub for new job creation and economic diversification that attracts global brands, innovative industries, manufacturing, e-commerce, and logistics centers.
Original source can be found here.
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