Major John (Jack) Simpson
INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES BUREAU
Jack Simpson retired as a Major from the Maryland State Police serving for 28 years. As a command officer, he led the Criminal Investigation Division, the Special Operations Command, a Barrack, a Troop consisting of multiple Barracks and two Regions consisting of all Field Operations installations, which included tactical, patrol, investigations and Community Policing components. Major Simpson was the Assistant Chief for the Support Services Bureau which included Licensing and Regulatory components.
Major Simpson has a B.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland University College and a M.S. in Management from Johns Hopkins University, graduating from their Police Executive Leadership Program. Prior to this appointment, Major Simpson served as the Executive Director of the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council and an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice for the University of Maryland University College.
Major Lee Dunbar
SERVICES AND SUPPORT BUREAU
Major Lee Dunbar currently serves as the Services and Support Bureau Chief. Major Dunbar started his law enforcement career with the Maryland State Police as a Cadet before graduating from their 103rd entrance level law enforcement class. Upon graduation and due to statewide budgetary cuts, his entire graduating class was laid off. Major Dunbar then joined the Bel Air Police Department where he worked in patrol operations and the Harford County Narcotics Task Force for 4 years. In 1995, Major Dunbar lateraled to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, where he has worked and supervised in a variety of roles in patrol operations, covert narcotics operations, criminal investigations of homicide, rape, robbery, burglary and white collar crimes, as well as polygraph examinations and criminal intelligence. Major Dunbar has served as the commander for the Special Investigations Division-Harford County Narcotics Task Force, Criminal Investigations Division and most recently for Patrol Operations-Southern Precinct. As a commander, Major Dunbar has served as the Sheriff’s Office Chairman for the Use of Force Committee, as a member of the Public Information Office media team, has testified in Annapolis in support of law enforcement and traveled the county doing outreach and education on the heroin and fentanyl epidemic for our schools, community, fire departments, medical professionals and private organizations.
Major Dunbar is a graduate of Harford Christian High School, holds an Associates Degree in Political Science from Harford Community College and a Bachelors Degree in Government and Public Policy-Summa Cum Laude from the University of Baltimore.
Major Eric Gonzalez
POLICE OPERATIONS BUREAU
Eric Gonzalez joined the Harford County Sheriff’s Office in August of 2001. After graduating Entrance Level Academy Class 19 he was assigned to the Patrol Division at the Southern Precinct. Since that time Major Gonzalez has worked in a variety of assignments within the Agency.
Major Gonzalez spent seven years in the Criminal Investigation Division as both a Property Crimes Detective and a Major Case Detective handling cases from white collar crimes to rape and homicide. As he moved through the ranks Major Gonzalez handled supervisory positions in Patrol Operations, Gang Suppression Unit, Crime Suppression Unit, as well as the Lieutenant and Captain in command of the Special Operations Division. Major Gonzalez has also been part of the Public Information Officer Team for several years as well as various workgroups throughout the Agency. Prior to being appointed as Chief of the Police Operations Bureau Major Gonzalez served as the Commander of the Special Projects, an assignment responsible for the oversight of the building of the new Central Precinct and Training Academy, as well as other projects within the Sheriff’s Office.
Major Gonzalez is a graduate of Dulaney High School. He holds an Associate’s Degree from the Community College of Baltimore County (previously Essex Community College), as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Baltimore.
Major Donald Gividen
ASSISTANT WARDEN, CORRECTIONAL SERVICES BUREAU
Donald Gividen joined the Harford County Sheriff’s Office in November of 1997. After graduating Entrance Level Academy Class 14 he was assigned to the Patrol Division at the Southern Precinct. Major Gividen worked in a variety of assignments to include the Harford County Joint Narcotics Task Force, Community Action Response Team (CART), Violent Street Crimes Unit, Traffic Unit and K9.
Major Gividen was promoted to Captain in July 2014, as Captain he served as the Commander of the Northern Precinct, Southern Precinct, and the Special Operations Division. He also served as the Line of Duty Team Commander, honoring the memory of our fallen heroes. In February 2019, he was promoted to Major and placed in command of the Patrol Operations Bureau, overseeing all Patrol operations, Special Operations and the Community Services Division.
In November of 2022, Major Gividen retired from the Harford County Sheriff’s Office, but in December of 2022 he rejoined the Sheriff’s Office, being appointed to the position of Assistant Warden for the Harford County Detention Center.
Major Gividen is a graduate of Havre de Grace High School. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Safety Administration from Neumann University and is a graduate of the 266th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico Virginia. Major Gividen is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Public Safety Administration from the University of Virginia.