Chief of Police, Norfolk, VA

Bruce Preston Marquis, Ed.D.
Chief of Police, Norfolk, Virginia

Bruce Preston Marquis, Ed.D. joins the Norfolk Police Department after 28 years of diverse law enforcement experience. As Norfolk’s Chief of Police he will be responsible for leading a department of 757 sworn and 128 civilian personnel with an annual budget of approximately $53 million.

Prior to his selection as Norfolk's Chief of Police, Chief Marquis was the Chief of Police in Connecticut’s Capital city of Hartford from December of 2000 until January of 2004 and he was credited with bringing stability to its police force through his strong leadership.

Chief Marquis previously served as the Chief of Police of the Houston Independent School district, a post he held from January of 1994 until November of 2000.

Chief Marquis was a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1984 until 1994. He investigated violations of federal statutes such as white-collar crime, violent crimes, crime committed by organized street gangs, and was a member of the Fugitive Task Force. He also served as Regional Recruitment Specialist, Equal Opportunity Counselor and Community Outreach Liaison for the FBI.

Before joining the FBI, Chief Marquis was a member of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Committee. He served as a senior security manager and was directly responsible for managing the activities of more than 1400 employees, and coordinating security with local, national and international law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of Olympic athletes and visiting dignitaries.

Chief Marquis was commissioned in the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant in June 1974 and was assigned to the Air Force Security Police. He rose to the rank of Captain and was the Chief of Police of the Air Force Security Police Squadron at the Los Angeles Air Force Base in California from 1981 to 1983. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for meritorious service and honorably discharged in 1983.

Chief Marquis was born on December 10, 1951 in Oakland, California and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco in 1970. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Portland, a Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University, and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Management from Sam Houston State University. In 1991, Texas Southern University conferred the degree of Doctor of Education in Higher Education Administration upon Chief Marquis. He is also a graduate of the FBI's National Academy.

Chief Marquis, a tennis and movie enthusiast, is married to Traci B. Marquis, Esquire. They have two school-aged children, Preston and Prentiss.