Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell is well into his second month as the new police chief. He believes his 28 years on the force has prepared him for what’s ahead.
In January, City Manager Reese Goad announced that Revell, a Tallahassee native, as the city’s new chief of police. His appointment capped a rocky search process that included a previously named chief stepping away from the job in a dispute over the wording of his contract.
“I stand before you to say that the unity we want for this community can be had by all,” Revell said at his swearing-in ceremony in a gymnasium at Jack McLean Park on the south side.
After graduating from Rickards High School, Revell earned his associate degree from Florida A&M University, while also playing baseball for the school, a bio provided by the police department said. The bio continued to expound on his education, saying he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University and his master’s degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Revell has worked in almost every division of the department including patrol, tactical apprehension and control (sniper), high-risk offenders, financial crimes and the chaplain program. Clearly, Revell knows his way around the force.
Revell’s resume includes some notable crowning achievements. He served as a major in charge of the Criminal Investigations Bureau. Overseeing 46 sworn officers, 18 civilian support staff and a $7 million budget, he and the team achieved a 100 percent clearance rate for homicides in 2018. Clearance rates in criminal justice refer to a rate derived by dividing the number of crimes in which a charge has been administered (cleared) by the total number of crimes reported.
In 2016, he was chair for the Department of Homeland Security Domestic Security Coordinating Group – Specialty Response Teams for the state of Florida. This group covers all special teams across the state including SWAT, Hazmat, and Aviation.
The chief is also active in his church serving as the chairman of deacons and a Sunday school teacher. He is also in charge of the church security team.
Tallahassee Mayor John Daily said, “He (Revell) cares deeply for our community. I am proud of the strides that Chief Revell has already made to lead TPD into the future, and I am confident in his vision and direction for the Tallahassee Police Department.”
“Our whole community is being utilized and we must continue to seize the momentum that’s been started,” Revell said regarding his initiative to encourage community policing.
In coming years, Revell will be commanding from the new headquarters at Northwood Centre on North Monroe Street.