COLONEL JOSEPH BRYANT, JR.

Colonel Bryant began his law enforcement career as a police officer in 1976 with the New Castle County Police Department. During the next 23 years in the department, he quickly rose through the ranks. During his tenure, he managed nearly every major police unit in the department, including the Uniform Patrol Section, Drug Enforcement Unit, Community Service Unit, Internal Affairs Unit, K-9 Units, and Traffic Services Unit. Prior to retiring from New Castle County in 2000, he was promoted from Captain to Major in 1998, responsible for the Operational Section of the Department and the Human Resources Unit.

Colonel Bryant earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Delaware. He also received specialized professional training at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia; the Senior Management Institute for Police Executives at Harvard Law School; and International Association of Chief of Police Seminars. Mr. Bryant has also served on the Board for the Delaware Police Chiefs' Foundation and the New Castle County Community Partnership. He was a member of the Delaware Police Chiefs' Council, Salem County (NJ) Police Chiefs' Council, and Cape May County (NJ) Police Chiefs' Council. He also serves as President of the Delaware Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

During his career, Colonel Bryant earned numerous awards and citations, including Delaware River and Bay Authority Police Officer of the Year; Chief's Citation Award; National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives' Officer of the Year Award; VFW Officer of the Year Award; Community Policing Award; six Departmental Commendations of Merit; and three Distinguished Unit Citations.

Colonel Bryant is an active member and Trustee Board member of Bethel AME Church in Wilmington; and the Wilmington Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. In 2013, Colonel Bryant accepted a position with the New Castle County Government as Director of Public Safety following 12 years of service with the Delaware River and Bay Authority Police.