The News Room [News Archive]
Sheriff Contact: John Roach: 313-224-0615
Release Date: Monday, November 8, 2004
Sheriff Evans announces appointment
of Harold Cureton as new Undersheriff --- Former Assistant
Chief with Detroit Police brings experience and contacts
Wayne County Sheriff Warren C. Evans today announced the appointment
of Harold Cureton, as his new second-in-command. Cureton, who spent
more than 30 years with the Detroit Police Department (DPD) and
recently retired as Assistant Chief, will serve as Evans’ Undersheriff
in charge of day-to-day operations.
Cureton replaces Evans’ former Undersheriff, Lawrence Meyer,
who recently retired after 28 years with the department.
Evans said that Cureton’s appointment is a natural fit. “I’ve
known Harold my entire life. I trust him as a friend and I respect
him as a police officer and an administrator,” Evans said. “I
am thrilled to have someone of his caliber and experience joining
our team.”
In his new position, Cureton will be responsible for overseeing
all police operations of the department, including the county’s
three jails, as well as all investigative, patrol and apprehension
units within the sheriff’s office. Among those are:
- Adult and juvenile fugitive apprehension
- Narcotics and prostitution
enforcement
- Highland Park patrol
- Secondary road patrol, marine patrol and
park patrol
- Internal affairs and other investigative units
Cureton, who began his new job on Thursday, is no stranger to
the sheriff’s office. While serving as Assistant Chief with
Detroit, he played an important role in the creation and operation
of the Fugitive Apprehension Service Team (FAST), a collaborative
effort between the sheriff’s office and DPD that has rounded
up more than 5,500 felony fugitives since it was created in January
2003. He also helped lead the formation of the Missing & Exploited
Children’s Task Force, another joint program that has recovered
hundreds of children over the past year.
“Harold has been critical to the success of these and other
efforts,” Evans said. “Clearly, he understands my priorities
and embraces my philosophy of collaboration. Most important, he’s
a guy who knows how to get things done.”
Evans also said that Cureton’s contacts within DPD will
be a tremendous asset in his efforts to develop new collaborative
programs and keep current efforts in the city running effectively. “Of
all the police agencies we deal with, our relationship with Detroit
is the most important. In addition to our daily narcotics and prostitution
enforcement in the city, we hope to develop new cooperative ventures
with DPD. Harold’s contacts will play an important role in
that regard.”
During his tenure with DPD, Cureton earned a reputation as a good
cop and an effective administrator. He started with the department
in 1972 as a police officer and rose steadily through the ranks.
As Lieutenant he worked with the Major Crimes Division and oversaw
the Gang Enforcement Section. In 1999, Cureton was again promoted,
this time from Inspector to Commander, where he oversaw DPD’s
Narcotics Enforcement Division. Most recently, as Deputy Chief
and Assistant Chief, Cureton was in charge of the Criminal Investigations
and Professional Accountability bureaus.
Cureton, who is married and has one adult son, said he is ready
for a new challenge.
“Sheriff Evans has done great work over the past two years
and I am honored that he has asked me to serve as part of his team,” Cureton
said. “The Sheriff has tremendous respect in the law enforcement
community and, as a life-long cop, I am energized by the prospect
of what we can do to make this county safer.”
» Go To Top