Telisa E. White
Chief, Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office
Telisa E White is a 28-year veteran of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and is
currently the highest-ranking female within the agency. She was the first Detention Officer to ever be promoted to the rank of Captain, Major, and Chief of Detention. Chief White met every obstacle with determination as her career began to take off.
Chief White began her career with the Sheriff’s Office in 1994. When the opportunity presented itself, she excelled to the next level through promotions by exhibiting professionalism and dedication in every position. Some of those promotions include Sergeant in 1997, Captain in 2003, Major in 2015, and Chief of Detention in 2018. First, in her role as sergeant, her responsibilities included, Shift Sergeant, Facility Training Coordinator, Administrative Sergeant, Reality Sergeant, and Direct-Action Response Team Sergeant
(D.A.R.T.). Second, as captain her responsibilities included, Office of Professional Compliance (OPC), D.A.R.T. Commander, and Training Commander. Third, as major her responsibilities included, Facility Commander for Arrest Processing, and Detention Center Central, Facility Development, and American Correctional Association (ACA) team. Finally, as Chief of Detention she oversees the following areas, Juvenile Detention Facility, Detention Center Central, Arrest Processing Center, Facility Development, and the American Correctional Association (ACA) team.
Chief White graduated from Gardner-Webb University in 1992, with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, and in 2022, she received a Master of Arts in Leadership from Carolina University. In 2003, Chief White successfully completed the 36 th Session of the Administrative Officers Management Program at North Carolina State University, and in 2012, she obtained her General Instructor Certification from the North Carolina Department of Justice, and her Correctional Behavioral Health Certification as an instructor for the American Correctional Association. Chief White is a member of the American Correctional Association, the North Carolina Jail Administrators’ Association, The American Jail Association (AJA) and National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (Noble). Chief White serves on several committees for ACA, including, the Adult Corrections Ad Hoc Committee, Adult Local Confinement Committee, Behavioral Health Committee, and the Commissioner for Accreditations.