Colonel John E. Gavrilis began his tenure with Maryland Transit Administration Police Force in 2004 as the Deputy Chief of Police. In 2009, Colonel John E. Gavrilis was appointed to the rank of Chief of Police after a national search for the position. Colonel Gavrilis oversees a force of approximately 238 sworn and civilian personnel.
John, a forty-eight-year law enforcement professional, is retired from the Baltimore City Police Department where he rose through the ranks from patrolman to acting Police also held senior command ranks in Internal Affairs and the Patrol Division. He was also assigned to Executive Protection where he protected the President of the United States and other heads of state. He is also credited with initiating CompStat in the Baltimore Police Department and the Maryland Transit Administration Police Force. During his tenure with the MTA, he has been instrumental in dramatically reducing crime. For 7 years in a row the MDOT MTA has been recognized for having the lowest part one crime among the top 12 transit agencies in the country.
Chief Gavrilis has numerous medals for bravery and letters of commendations. He received the Daily Records “Innovator of the Year” award for revitalizing the Greektown Community. The Chief received a Ribbon of Valor for his undercover role that resulted in the arrest and conviction of the Ku Klux Klan chapter in the State of Maryland. He holds a top-Secret Security Clearance from the FBI, a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (session #192), completed the Johns Hopkins University Field Commanders forum and is a graduate of the Greater Baltimore Leadership School. He was also inducted into the Patterson High Alumni “Hall of Fame”. Colonel Gavrilis is active volunteering in the Greek community and in the Greek Orthodox churches. He is married with two daughters.
