Sheriff’s department promotes first female to lieutenant
NORRISTOWN » As the youngest of nine children, Joanne Lawlor is used to proving herself. Becoming the first female lieutenant in the history of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is an honor, but she admits, it’s “just another day.”
Lawlor will command the Warrants Division and the Transportation and Detention Division.
Lawlor was one of six deputies to be promoted, and of those six, she is the longest-serving law enforcement staff with 29 years experience working in the department’s Courts, Civil, Transportation and Detention, and Warrants Divisions. She was instrumental in helping to build the Montgomery County’s Most Wanted social media program, which has resulted in a significant increase in anonymous tips from residents. Lawlor has received MCSO and Domestic Relations Office commendations for her work capturing most wanted offenders for child support arrearages. An Elkins Park native and Montgomery County resident, she holds an associate degree in criminal justice from Montgomery County Community College.
“Lieutenant Lawlor has been a passionate leader and servant to her community for almost 30 years,” said Sheriff Sean Kilkenny. “She has been a driving force in making our office shine.”
Not many women would want to get into, let alone stay, in law enforcement. What has made you make a career of it?
The different aspects of the job. We have different divisions, which I have been in every one. I was in transportation for about seven years and drove all over the state, New York, Connecticut and down south to pick up people. It’s interesting. Being in the courts and hearing the cases kept me involved. Being in the warrant division was my highlight. Going out and serving the warrants, picking up the defendants and brining them into court. I take pride in everything I do. I had my ups and downs but I kept going.
Not every one must be willing to come with you when you serve a warrant.
No.
Obviously that’s a challenge of the job.
You need street smarts. From the training and the on-the job training you realize, ‘I’m going home’ so you are coming with me whether you like it or not. I’ve been in a couple hairy situations in my career. We were doing a night raid in Pottstown serving two warrants for two brothers. We are in the house and the deputies have them in the living room, serving the warrants, and the father comes out of the kitchen pointing a gun at me. Right away your training kicks in. I pull my firearm and scream, ‘drop the gun!’ There is a kid right behind him and I know if I pull the trigger the kid is going to get shot, too. He lowered the gun and ran away. I ran after him, tackled him and got the gun out of his hand.
Maybe it’s the television and movie depictions, but some people think stuff like that happens every time a warrant is served.
No. I take pride in the warrants office that we actually have a reputation of being nice. We go into these houses and are polite and treat people with respect. We’ve had people from other areas say how much nicer we are. Our deputies are well trained and get training almost every month. They know how to react in situations and I take pride in everyone of our deputies who go out and do this. They are very, very good at their job.
How have you seen the Montgomery County’s Most Wanted social media program be beneficial?
We had one defendant who had serious charges with minors. By putting him on social as one of our Most Wanted, the area he lived in, a lot of people “liked” the Montco Sheriff’s office page. They shared the post and it got over a thousand hits. He eventually got caught. The tips that come in, it’s helped us tremendously. Everybody knows somebody. It does help.
What does it mean for you to be the first female lieutenant in the history of the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office?
It’s an honor. I’m happy Sheriff Kilkenny and Chief Adam Berry had the faith in me to continue higher up in management to try to achieve the goals of the sheriff’s office and help bring along the deputies and other supervisors. But to me, it’s just another day. I started in March 1988, got transferred into the warrants decision in September… I asked to be in there and the sheriff put me in there. I felt, and my mindset is the same, I don’t need prove myself, you need to prove yourself to me. I know I’ll do the job and do it well but are you going to be able to keep up with me?
Where does that my mindset come from?
I’m the youngest of nine children. You have to learn how to rise so you get noticed.
How have the challenges of the job changed in 29 years?
The laws. It seems some of the laws hinder us more than help us. The pendulum swings. Technology and the tools we use are constantly evolving.
Your main goal is making Montgomery County safe. Why is it important to you?
You have the heroin epidemic; we work close with the drug court. We do our best to try to get people to come in. Our policy is if you walk in here on a warrant, we’ll walk you right down to the judge. It’s up to the judge if you need to be incarcerated. Turn yourself in. Don’t make us come out and try to get you.
“I am honored and humbled to be the first female in the MCSO to receive the rank of lieutenant,” said Lawlor. “I want to thank Sheriff Kilkenny and Chief Adam Berry for their belief in my abilities to forward the mission of the department. This would not have been possible without the support of my incredible team and Sgt. Mark Huzzard, who are dedicated to the same goals.”