Winchester Police Department selects Deputy Chief

Published on September 29, 2021

Photo of Deputy Chief Cleveland

Winchester Police Chief John Piper has announced the selection of Paul A. Cleveland of Winchester, Virginia to become the next Deputy Chief of Police. Deputy Chief Cleveland will begin his new role as the DC of Administration on October 12, 2021, and will start transitioning with Deputy Chief Kelly Rice prior to her planned retirement. 

“I’m looking forward to Paul joining our team and becoming an important member of the command staff,” stated Chief Piper. “I know that Deputy Chief Cleveland is very excited to get started and to meet the hard-working men and women of our agency.”  

Deputy Chief Cleveland began his distinguished law enforcement career with the Fairfax County Police Department in 1994, retiring as Major on September 24, 2021.  His command assignments included:

  • Director of the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Academy
  • Patrol Bureau Commander (Major) overseeing three of the FCPD’s eight district stations
  • Criminal Intelligence Division Commander (Top Secret National Security Clearance)
  • Organized Crime & Narcotics Commander
  • Internal Affairs and Professional Standards Assistant Commander

Other key assignments in Deputy Chief Cleveland’s career include:

  • Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force Operational Commander
  • Patrol supervisor and officer assigned to several district stations

Deputy Chief Cleveland holds a bachelor’s degree from Shippensburg University and has successfully completed numerous executive level trainings, including Leadership in Police Organizations, Leadership in Changing Times (VA Tech), Drug Commander Academy, DEA Leadership Academy, Force Science Institute, PELS, and the Naval Post Graduate School for Leadership. Paul and his family have lived in the Winchester area for nearly 20 years.

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