National consulting for local government offering practical, effective approaches to government ethics and police–community collaboration, through accountability and transparency. Municipal and County Officials, Community Leaders and Police Executives are encouraged to connect with our Chief Counsel.
Chief Counsel Shenandoah Titus
Shenandoah Titus, Esq., is the Founder and Chief Counsel of Police Oversight USA. One of America’s foremost authorities on government ethics, civilian oversight, transparency and accountability, and anti-corruption in government, Mr. Titus served in leadership positions within municipal, state and federal government for over 21 years.
He is a lecturer at the National Academy of Continuing Legal Education, where he developed and teaches two groundbreaking courses:
Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement: Navigating Legal, Social and Political Challenges
Building Ethical Culture: The Expanding Role of Inspectors General
From his lectures, oversight professionals, Inspectors General, and lawyers (who take his courses for state bar licensing credit) nationwide are instructed on the multiple challenges inherent in advancing civilian oversight initiatives, promoting government ethics, and balancing advocacy with diplomacy. Mr. Titus is a proponent of accountability, transparency, nationwide ethical community policing and trustworthy government.
Attorney Titus is a member of several professional organizations: National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement; Association of Inspectors General; Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists; National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). He has served on the national Ethics Committee of NOBLE, which is responsible for investigating formal allegations of improper conduct on the part of members or potential members of the organization, as well as participating in national policy development on ethical conduct for NOBLE membership.
Mr. Titus is licensed to practice law in the Supreme Court of the United States, as well as the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. He is a National Certified Investigator/Inspector via the Council on Licensure Enforcement and Regulation.
Attorney Titus is a Nationally Certified Professional in Mediation, with the National Association of Certified Mediators. Moreover, he holds Ethical Leadership Certification with the Center for The Public Trust – National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.
Attorney Titus is a national consultant, lecturer, legal advocate and speaker.
Career Highlights
Attorney Titus was the first municipal Human Rights Director of Amherst, MA., where he authored the region’s first Human Rights Bylaw and served on the Attorney General’s Task Force on Hate Crimes. He later served as the Human Rights Director of the City of Somerville, MA., where he led efforts to earn Somerville the No Place for Hate certification by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). In his capacity as the Human Rights Director of Amherst and, subsequently, Somerville, he received civilian complaints and led investigations into alleged police harassment, government abuse and ethical misconduct, always mindful of the principles of fairness, objectivity and upholding the integrity of his office.
He thereafter served as the first civilian Director of Police/Community Partnership Programs for the Transit Police Department, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Boston Headquarters. As a member of the Command Staff, he led efforts to earn the Transit Police Department several national and international community policing awards, in recognition of the department’s success in building positive community relations across Boston.
Mr. Titus began his federal career as Senior Policy Advisor for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Headquarters, Pentagon City. In that role, he led investigations nationwide into alleged abuse and ethical misconduct by TSA security personnel. Additionally, holding the highest level security clearance, he provided national security advice and training to TSA Headquarters.
Subsequently, as Program Manager, Mr. Titus established the first Headquarters Anti-Harassment Unit in the history of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Washington, DC. He led investigations into alleged abuse, ethical misconduct, and whistleblower retaliation by DHS personnel, which includes law enforcement agencies such as the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Coast Guard, etc.
Attorney Titus led efforts to develop anti-harassment policy across DHS Headquarters. He received the DHS Secretary’s Award for Excellence, regarded as the Department’s most prestigious award.
In addition to having expertise in civilian oversight of law enforcement, constitutional policing and government ethics, Attorney Titus is recognized as one of the country’s foremost authorities on anti-bullying. Throughout his career, he has given numerous presentations on workplace wellness and anti-harassment.
Education
Mr. Titus holds six academic degrees across multi-disciplines, including law, government, human ecology and religion. He is a graduate of Berkeley Law, and has completed official coursework at Harvard Law School. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Cornell University. He is a graduate of Harvard Divinity School, where he studied religion and public life.
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES:
Attorney Titus is an enthusiastic volunteer globally. Among nearly half a dozen internationally-related commitments, he served as a host parent to a 15-year-old female high school exchange student from Bangkok, Thailand (10-month program). After several years, he continues to serve monthly as an English Coach/Tutor for a Ukrainian refugee.
Challenges Municipal and County Leaders Often Face
- How do we balance public safety with the need to protect the civil liberties and human rights of the community?
- Do our public safety efforts foster community trust?
- How do we maintain balance in our civilian oversight objectives?
- How do we gain “buy in” from our law enforcement community?
- Does funding Police (Sheriff) Oversight Offices support local government fiscal objectives?
What Police Oversight USA Delivers
- Independent, objective, confidential assistance with investigations and policy development
- Assistance aligning goals with implementation, whether creating new frameworks or refining existing efforts
- Sustainable partnerships between government and community stakeholders
- Outcome-Focused, with emphasis on measurable improvement, not optics or ideology
- Balanced Approach – Bridges public trust and public safety
- Trusted by All Sides – Built to support communities, local government leaders, and police departments
Let’s Build Oversight and Partnerships That Work
Police Oversight USA equips local government to lead public safety and inspection efforts that are balanced and community-focused.