2007
Learning
& Leadership Award
James
H. Lawrence
SUNY
College at Old Westbury
and the Old Westbury College
Foundation, Inc. are proud
to celebrate the career
of outgoing Nassau County
Police Commissioner James
H. Lawrence.
Appointed
as Nassau County Police
Commissioner on June
10, 2002, Lawrence
served for five years
as the leader of the
County Police Department
and its more than
2,000 officers and
is credited with such
achievements as the
implementation of
anti-gang and crime
reduction initiatives,
the installation of
global positioning
systems in patrol
cars, and the launch
of a $60-million communication
systems upgrade.
Prior
to his appointment
on Long Island, Lawrence
served for 30 years
as a member of the
New York City Police
Department. After
beginning his career
in 1970 on patrol
in the 40 th Precinct,
he rose through the
department, ultimately
serving as Chief of
Personnel before his
hiring by Nassau County.
As Chief of Personnel,
he was responsible
for the management
of human resource
functions for the
55,000 person department.
Prior
to being appointed
Chief of Personnel,
he was the Commanding
Officer of the School
Safety Division. Chief
Lawrence also served
as the Executive Officer
of the Office of the
Chief of Department.
In addition, he has
commanded the Strategic
and Tactical Commands,
Brooklyn Housing Operations
(Housing Borough Brooklyn),
and the 105 and 113
Precincts. Other commands
in which he served
include the 40, 66
and 103 Precincts,
Traffic Control Division,
Tactical Patrol Unit,
Office of the Deputy
Commissioner of Training,
Chief of Patrol's
Office, and the Police
Commissioner's Office.
A
Vietnam veteran, Commissioner
Lawrence served in
the United States
Army where he attained
the rank of First
Lieutenant. He also
received a Bachelors
Degree in Economics
from Fordham University,
and a Juris Doctorate
from CUNY Law School
at Queens College.
He is a 1993 graduate
of the Police Management
Institute at Columbia
University.
In
addition to Commissioner
Lawrence’s
command assignments
and personal achievements,
he has served a variety
of professional and
not-for-profit organizations,
including the Vera
Institute of Justice
Advisory Board, Adolescent
Development, Safety
and Justice and the
Old Westbury College
Foundation, Inc.
He
is an active member
of the National Organization
of Black Law Enforcement
Executives, the American
Academy for Professional
Law Enforcement, Guardian's
Association, New York
State Association
of Chiefs of Police,
and the International
Association of Chiefs
of Police.
