John Bell, Jr. for VB Sheriff

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - http://www.johnbell4sheriff.com/

Captain John L. Bell Jr. is a native of Brooklyn, New York. He attended Columbia University in New York City. In 1973 at the end of his junior year, Captain Bell withdrew from Columbia University and seized the opportunity to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a police officer. He joined the New York City Transit Police Department where he served from 1973 to 1975.

In 1976 Captain Bell relocated to Virginia Beach, Va. where he joined the Virginia Beach Police Department. He currently holds the rank of Police Captain and as the senior captain of the Virginia Beach Police Department, he currently serves as the Commanding Officer of the Professional Standards Office. His responsibilities include oversight of internal investigations as well as citizen’s complaints; maintaining the department’s status as a Nationally Accredited Law Enforcement Agency; and annual inspection of all commands to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures. Captain Bell also serves as the department’s liaison to the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission.

During his 33 ½ year career, Captain Bell has served as a detective, patrol sergeant and as a lieutenant, he served on a Task Force for one year assisting in the planning, development and implementation of the Department’s Labor Day Operational Plan for Laborfest 1990. In 1990 Captain Bell became the first African-American promoted to the rank of Police Lieutenant and in 1997 he was promoted to the rank of Police Captain becoming the first African-American to hold that rank. As a captain, he has commanded the First Precinct, the largest precinct in the city, he has served as a night Command Duty Officer responsible for oversight of all night police operations, and he served as the Commanding Officer of the Detective Bureau for 5 years until his transfer to the Professional Standards Office in January 2009.

Captain Bell has attended numerous law enforcement professional management courses including the 3 month Administrative Officers Course at the University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky and the Professional Executive Leadership School at the University of Richmond. Captain Bell is also a graduate of Lead Hampton Road, a program promoting regionalism which is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Captain Bell’s academic credentials include an Associates of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Leo University; and a Master of Public Administration degree from Troy University.

Captain Bell’s professional affiliations include the Hampton Roads Virginia Chapter of the National Organization Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) where he served as vice-president; the Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Black Men; the American Society of Public Administrators; the Conference of Minority Public Administrators; Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc; and the Tidewater Community College, Administration of Justice Curriculum Advisory Board. Captain Bell resides in Virginia Beach and attends Mt. Zion AME Church. He is married to the former Cora McKinnie and he has two grown sons and two grandsons.