Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell Names Three New Deputy Chiefs

Last week, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell named three new deputy chiefs after reviewing internal and external applications for the positions. According to a Tallahassee Police Department press release from January 15, Revell chose Jason Laursen, Tonja Bryant-Smith, and Maurice Holmes.

According to the press release, Jason Laursen has lived in Tallahassee since 1993, and he graduated from Tallahassee Community College and Florida State University. He has worked for TPD since 1998, filling roles in the Patrol Division, Vice and Narcotics, the Tactical Team, and more.

He has also commanded the Patrol, Criminal Investigations, and High-Risk Offenders Bureaus, and he is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, according to the press release.

Tonja Bryant-Smith, another incoming deputy chief, also lives in Tallahassee and graduated from FSU. After working for TPD for 11 years, she went on to work for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for 17 years.

The press release noted that, “During her time at FLDE, she was a Narcotics Agent, an Inspector in the Office of Executive Investigations (Professional Standards Unit), and a Special Agent Supervisor over the Organized Crime Squad, the Public Integrity/Economic Squad, and the Counterterrorism Squad.”

Bryant-Smith also serves as the President of the North Florida Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)  and has coordinated many programs with the organization.

The third new deputy chief, Maurice Holmes, was born in Tallahassee and graduated from Thomas University. In 2019, he earned a master’s degree in Public Safety Administration from the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College at Columbus State University.

According to the press release, Holmes has worked in law enforcement for 25 years, and he currently serves as a captain at the Thomasville Police Department. Holmes is also a United States Army veteran, Commander of the Community Relations Division, and a Deacon of Disciples of Jesus Ministries in Thomasville.

The positions will take effect on February 1, and the three new deputy chiefs will be sworn in on February 3.