Chief Harvard has made community policing a part of Atlanta's growth as an international city. The concept puts more officers on the streets where they can have closer ties with the communities in which they serve. To further address crime and violence, she established and expanded a juvenile section, domestic violence unit, gun task force, and jointly opened a state-of-the-art, citywide communications system with the Fire Department. Additionally, Atlanta's 21st police chief for the city that hosted the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games, was co-chair of the Olympic Security Support Group. As co-chair, she played a major role in coordinating efforts between federal, state, local and private agencies providing security for the event.

Chief Harvard began her distinguished career in 1973 as a patrol officer, and has served in a number of positions within the department including: executive protection officer — breaking ground as the first woman to serve in the male-dominated unit; director of public affairs; and deputy chief of police for the Career Development Division, the Criminal Investigations Division and the Administrative Services Division.

While deputy chief of the Administrative Services Division, the second largest within the department, Chief Harvard was responsible for police communications, training, records, property control and the administration of an $80 million annual budget. As deputy chief for the Criminal Investigations Division, she directed the criminal investigative process involving violent crimes, organized crime and vice units, larceny, auto theft and narcotics, as well as managing personnel and equipment deployment, and the development of investigative strategies. While in charge of the Career Development Division, Chief Harvard was responsible for recruitment, applicant testing, psychological screening, background investigations and the selection and training of all police officers and civilian personnel.

The Macon, Ga., native is a graduate of Morris Brown College in Atlanta and holds a B.A. degree in sociology with a minor in psychology. Chief Harvard earned her M.S. in Urban Government and Administration from Georgia State University, and holds two honorary Doctorate of Law degrees from Morris Brown and the University of South Carolina. Chief Harvard was the first woman in the Atlanta Police Department to graduate from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy in Quantico, Va., and is a graduate of the FBI's National Executive Institute. 

The first African-American woman in the nation and many parts of the western world to run a major police department, Chief Harvard serves on numerous boards and committees including: the Executive Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, U.S. Attorney General's Working Group on Reducing Violence in America, Council on Battered Women Board of Directors (Metro Atlanta Chapter), The Georgia Center for Children, Women’s Forum of Georgia, and the National Institute of Justice Southeast Regional Technology Advisory Board. Her memberships include the FBI National Academy Associates, Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and Outstanding Atlanta.

Chief Harvard is a recipient of numerous awards and citations. Her most recent honors are the CBS Morning Show Woman of the Year, Southern Christian Leadership Conference Drum Major for Justice Award, Metro Atlanta YMCA Woman of Achievement Award, Georgia's 100 Most Influential People by Georgia Trend Magazine, and the Turner Broadcasting Trumpet Award.

She has appeared on nationally-televised broadcasts such as the "Today Show," "CNN" and "CBS Morning Shows," and "Black Entertainment Television." She has also been featured in major magazines and newspapers including: Time, U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek, Ebony, Harper's Bazaar, George, McCall's, Girl's Life, Scholastic News, Jet, Women Looking Ahead, The Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times and USA Today

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