Zipporah Thomas-Jenkins

Chief Zipporah Thomas-Jenkins, a Newark, NJ native, has proudly served the Essex County Sheriff’s Office for 24 years and currently leads the agency as Acting Chief. She holds the distinction of being both the first woman and the first African-American to serve as Chief in the history of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office.

Before assuming this role, she served as the Commander of the Patrol Division/Field Operations, overseeing day-to-day operations and field personnel. Chief Thomas-Jenkins has held numerous leadership positions throughout her career, including Captain, Lieutenant, and Sergeant within the Bureau of Narcotics. She dedicated over a decade to undercover operations, managing a team of 30–40 detectives responsible for conducting small to mid-level narcotics investigations across Essex County in collaboration with local, state, and federal partners.

Earlier in her career, she spent approximately 13 years in the Courts Division, gaining experience in Criminal, Family, and Civil Court. In 2001, she also briefly served as a Correction Officer at the Essex County Correctional Facility. Chief Thomas-Jenkins holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Montclair State University and a master’s degree in Police and Government Administration from Saint Elizabeth University (2019), where she now serves as an Adjunct Professor.

She is a proud wife to her husband Thomas and mother to two daughters, Olivia and Harlow. A passionate traveler, she has visited approximately 70 countries to date, with a personal goal of reaching 100. As a trailblazer and leader, Chief Thomas-Jenkins is deeply committed to building community trust, improving public safety in and around Essex County, and strengthening the Essex County Sheriff’s Office through strategic planning, mentorship, and effective leadership.