Waves Leadership Group

Tara May

Tara May has served as a police commander with 24 years of experience. At the City of Alexandria Police Department, she has held command positions in patrol operations, special investigations, and administrative support services. Tara has over twenty years’ experience in crisis negotiation, including serving as her department’s team commander since 2016.

Tara graduated from the FBI National Academy, Session #283, and the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department Leadership Academy. She currently holds professional memberships with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, and the FBI National Academy Associates.

As a board member for the Alexandria Chapter of the SSPBA, she guides sworn members through grievance and other legal matters related to administrative complaints and EEOC violations. Tara was part of the team that established the first Collective Bargaining Agreement in Virginia.

Tara has a passion for the wellness of public safety employees. For over 20 years, she has served as a department representative for a regional non-profit organization that provides for families who have lost a first responder in the line of duty. Tara was instrumental in creating a suicide memorial that stands outside of her police department today.

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