Colonel Steve Sellers, Chief of Police, Albemarle County
Where were you born (and raised, if different)?
I was born and raised in Washington, DC.
When and why did you move to the Charlottesville/Albemarle area?
I moved to Albemarle County in February 2011 to accept a job as Chief of Police.
What neighborhood do you live in now?
I live in Crozet, Virginia.
Family (spouse, kids, etc.)?
I am married to Jennifer Sellers. I have twin girls named Jaimie and Justine. I have a stepson named Jonathan. We all live in Virginia and they all have children of their own, making me a grandfather 7 times over.
What is your alma mater and when did you graduate?
I have three alma maters. My most recent is Virginia Tech in 1997. Go Hokies!
What were you doing before you came to work for the county?
I held the #2 post (Deputy Chief of Police) in Fairfax County, Virginia.
Your job title is Chief of Police – what, in your own words, would you say you do?
I build the future (planning through execution) and I solve problems (both community-based, and external and internal).
What is the best part of your job? The most difficult part?
The best part is watching my officers take the bad guys off of the street. The worst part is disciplining or firing employees.
How does your job most directly impact the average person?
Do you sleep well at night knowing your home and family are safe? Do you feel secure when you go to the grocery store? If you answered yes to these two questions, then my job and the job my officers do every day contributed to that feeling.
What is the most interesting project or work experience that you’ve had while with the county?
Without a doubt, trying to build an outdoor police firing range on an old landfill in Keene. I met a lot of good people in the process and I made a few enemies. Being exposed to the politics of this project has been both painful and a learning experience. In my 31 years of law enforcement, I’ve never experienced a time where a critical public safety need was positioned 2nd fiddle to a land-use issue.
What is a little-known fact about you?
I’m a practical joker.
What do you do outside of work hours – hobbies, etc.?
I mostly spend time with my family. My hobbies are numerous! Woodworking, fishing in the Chesapeake Bay, backpacking, motorcycle riding, amateur radio, boating, Bluegrass music and traveling.
