Beverly Harvard

Almost 200 years after a black woman appointed herself the world's first policewoman, Beverly Harvard became the first African-American woman chief of a major metropolitan police force.

Beverly Harvard was appointed chief of police by Atlanta (GA) Mayor Bill Campbell and confirmed by the Atlanta City Council in October, 1994.

Harvard was born in Macon, GA, and graduated from Morris Brown College in Atlanta, where she earned a B.A. degree in Sociology. She received an M.S. in Urban Government and Administration from Georgia State University and holds two honorary degrees from Morris Brown and the University of South Carolina.

Harvard began her career by becoming a patrol officer in 1973. She was also the first woman to serve as an executive protection officer. She also held the position as the Director of Public Affairs and was Deputy Chief of Police for the Career Development Division, the Criminal Investigations Division, and the Administrative Services Division.

In August 2002 Harvard was named no. 2 security director of Hartsfield Airport in Atlanta.