Edward Poulson: Internal Affairs

Edward Poulson spent more than twenty years with the Oakland Police Department in Oakland, California. He holds a Master of Public Administration degree, which he received from Golden Gate University in 2013; a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from California State University in Hayward, which he earned in 2002; and is a 1999 graduate of the FBI National Academy.

Edward Poulson began his career in law enforcement as a patrolman. He rose quickly through the ranks as Police Officer, Background Investigator, Patrol and Field Training Officer, Sergeant in Criminal Investigations, Sergeant in Internal Affairs, and Lieutenant and Patrol Watch Commander. By 2008, he was a Captain in the Bureau of Administration, where he completed a series of strategic short-term assignments and managed up to fifty-five staff members.

After four months, Edward Poulson was promoted to Captain, and assigned to the Internal Affairs division. In that role, he reported directly to the Chief of Police. He led a division charged with intake, processing and investigation hundreds of complaints every year, that alleged officer or staff misconduct. Edward Poulson managed a staff of up to forty. He prepared and managed an operational budget of five million dollars.

The position required Edward Poulson to manage many highly sensitive, high priority projects at the same time. He managed to juggle all these projects, and still oversee the complex documentation, tracking and adjudication of cases. His responsibilities include making final recommendations for all disciplinary actions. Finally, he planned and implemented substantial improvements in quality of investigations and timely processing of complaints.