
Reverend Cassandra Bledsoe
2021
Cassandra A. Bledsoe has been the Community Liaison to the Cleveland Chief of Police since 2014. In this role she has developed and implemented best practices that create a strong, sustainable culture of respect, building trust and pro-active problem solving with multiple federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and community stakeholders. She also has developed initiatives that promote equality and safety for women (e.g., Salute to Women in Public Safety, Cleveland Says NO MORE Domestic Violence Awareness Series).
Bledsoe’s unique career as a civil rights faith leader who works in law enforcement has broken barriers, shattered glass ceilings and opened doors of opportunities. In her previous roles she served as the Administrator of the Office of Professional Standards, Department of Public Safety were she spearheaded the successful transition from sworn law enforcement investigators to civilian investigators and Project Director, Community Relations Board were she was charged with monitoring hate crimes and overseeing relations with Cleveland’s 117 ethnic communities.
Bledsoe’s heart is for the community she has faithfully served five terms to the United States Commission on Civil Rights, Ohio Advisory Committee. She served two terms 2018-2020 as the National Chaplain for the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. In 2019 she served as a member of the Department of Homeland Security Subcommittee for Prevention of Targeted Violence Against Faith-Based Communities. For her work with the community after the September 11, 2001 attack in 2002 she was awarded the Federal Bureau of Investigation Director’s Community Leadership Award.
The inaugural Eradicate Hate Summit was a truly impressive gathering of leaders dedicated to finding lasting and effective solutions to violent extremism. I was particularly moved by the prominence given to survivors and family members of victims of hate and violence throughout the event. Their stories and those of so many others must be at the center of what we do and why we do it.

