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
POLICE OPERATIONS BUREAU
Major Lee Dunbar currently serves as the Police Operations 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 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. Prior to being Chief of the Police Operations Bureau, Major Dunbar served as Chief of the Services and Support Bureau.
Major Dunbar is a graduate of Harford Christian High School. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Political Science from Harford Community College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Government and Public Policy, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of Baltimore, and a Master’s Degree in Public Safety from the University of Virginia.
Major Eric Gonzalez
SERVICES AND SUPPORT BUREAU
Major Eric Gonzalez began his law enforcement career with the Ocean City Police Department, serving as a seasonal police officer during the summers of 1999, 2000, and 2001. In August 2001, he joined the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. After graduating from Entrance Level Training Academy Class 19, he began his career with the agency as a patrol deputy assigned to the Southern Precinct.
Throughout his career, Major Gonzalez has served in a wide range of investigative, supervisory, command, and executive leadership positions. He spent seven years in the Criminal Investigations Division as a Property Crimes Detective and Major Case Detective, investigating cases ranging from complex financial crimes to sexual assaults and homicides.
As he progressed through the ranks, Major Gonzalez held leadership positions in Patrol Operations, the Gang Suppression Unit, and the Crime Suppression Unit. He later served as both the Lieutenant and Captain commanding the Special Operations Division. He has also been a longtime member of the agency’s Public Information Officer Team and has contributed to numerous committees, workgroups, and strategic initiatives.
Before his appointment as Chief of the Services and Support Bureau, Major Gonzalez served as Chief of the Police Operations Bureau and as Commander of Special Projects. In the latter role, he oversaw the planning and construction of the Sheriff’s Office’s new Central Precinct and Training Academy, as well as several other major agency projects.
Major Gonzalez has also led the Sheriff’s Office’s COVID-19 Response Center, coordinating the agency’s operations and continuity efforts throughout the public health emergency. He was later deployed to North Carolina in response to Hurricane Helene, where he assisted in establishing a command center and coordinating with FEMA and other partner agencies to support emergency response operations and the allocation of critical resources.
Major Gonzalez is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session 298, and serves in a leadership role on the International Association of Chiefs of Police Patrol and Tactical Operations Committee. He holds an associate degree from the Community College of Baltimore County and a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Baltimore. He is currently pursuing a Master of Public Safety degree at the University of Virginia.
In addition to his professional responsibilities, Major Gonzalez remains actively involved in the Harford County community and serves on the boards of two local nonprofit organizations.
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 from Neumann University, and a Master of Science Degree in Public Safety Administration from the University of Virginia. He is also a graduate of the 266th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico Virginia, and the Penn State University Police Executive Development (POLEX) Training Program.