Sheriff Jennifer Harlow

Sheriff Jennifer Harlow was appointed by Governor Phil Scott as the Orleans County Sheriff.

Sheriff Harlow began her law enforcement career at the age of 16 years old when she joined the Police Explorer Program to learn more about a career in law enforcement, then moved on to become an auxiliary officer. At the age of 18 years old she was sponsored by her hometown police department to participate in the part-time police academy.   Sheriff Harlow was a part-time law enforcement officer for several towns and started to work primarily for the Town of Montague in Turners Falls Massachusetts. Sheriff Harlow worked patrol as well as dispatching, which gave her a better understanding of the totality of the job.   Sheriff Harlow then had the opportunity to attend and graduate from the Agawam Police Academy in 1999.  Sheriff Harlow was an Acting Sergeant for a couple of years prior to moving to Vermont. 

Sheriff Harlow worked for the Newport Police Department for approximately 16 years where she worked patrol, then was assigned to the Special Investigations Unit as a Detective for approximately 8 years where she investigated the most heinous crimes against our most vulnerable population, our children.  These cases involved severe child abuse, sexual crimes, and internet crimes against children. Sheriff Harlow also investigated sex crimes reported by adults, aggravated domestic assaults and elder abuse. Sheriff Harlow was promoted to Sergeant being the first female Sergeant to serve the Newport Police Department and was in that leadership role until she was appointed in January 2020 by Governor Phil Scott to fill the vacant Orleans County Sheriff’s position.  

Sheriff Harlow is an instructor at the Vermont Police Academy instructing a 3 day block on Sexual Violence and Child Abuse to recruits, Domestic Violence Instructor, Rape Aggression Defense Instructor and Team Two Instructor (Mental Health training to professionals within our community).  Sheriff Harlow goes into local schools presenting alongside Savannah Williams with Umbrella on Healthy Relationships as well as Technology Safety.

Sheriff Harlow serves on a variety of boards to include the North Country Union High School as well as the North Country Union Junior High School, School Boards, the Orleans County Child Advocacy Center Board of Directors, the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council -Training Advisory Committee, Law Enforcement Advisory Board (LEAB) as a member of the Vermont Sheriff’s Association, is an Affiliated member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task force, Orleans County Domestic Violence Task Force, Advisory Council for NEK Prevention, SECURE (Skills and Experience for Calling Up Resiliency) peer mentorship program for Vermont’s First Responders. 

Sheriff Harlow was voted in by the Vermont Sheriff’s Association as the 2^nd Vice President.  Sheriff Harlow is also the Vice President of our Newport Rotary Club.

Career History

-          2020 – Present: Sheriff – Derby, VT

-          2019 -2020: Sergeant, Newport, VT

-          2010-2018:  Detective – Orleans County Special Investigations Unit – Newport, VT

-          2004-2010:  Police Officer – Newport, VT

-          2002-2004:  Acting Sergeant – Montague, MA

-          1999-2002: Full time Police Officer – Montague, MA

-          1996-1999: Part-time Police Officer – Conway, Erving & Montague, MA

Education

• Johnson State College

          Bachelor of Arts – focus in Psychology, Cum Laude

• Community College of Vermont

          Associate Degree in Liberal Studies

• Agawam Police Academy

          32^nd Municipal Police Officer Academy

• Greenfield Community College

          Started a Degree in Criminal Justice