Erika Shields

Erika Shields is the current Commissioner of the Buffalo Police Department. Erika previously served as Chief of Police for the Louisville-Metro Police Department (LMPD) and Chief of Police for the Atlanta Police Department (APD), after having spent 25 years with the agency. In addition to her policing background, Erika served as the Chief Commercial Officer for InVeris Training Solutions, Inc., the leading provider of technologydriven training solutions for defense forces, law enforcement agencies and commercial shooting range owners around the globe. Erika is a strong advocate for transparency, accountability, and equity in policing and embraces the leveraging of technologies as one tool to promote trust with the public. The adoption of multiple technological platforms, coupled with a strong emphasis on intelligence and deliberate enforcement efforts, allowed Erika to lead both LMPD and APD through significant reductions in violent crime. Recognizing the importance of mental health in law enforcement, while Chief of LMPD, Erika focused on advancing wellness initiatives, including prioritizing the creation of a state-of-the-art wellness center. Erika holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from Webster University.