Commander Eric L. Holmes has served as an accomplished and respected law enforcement professional for over twenty-four years. In 1997, he joined the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, where he currently holds the rank of commander and serves as the Chief of Staff.

In 2014, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police was one of six pilot sites selected to take part in the National Initiative for Building Community Trust and Justice, and Cmdr. Holmes served as the site liaison. Cmdr. Holmes also served on the My Brother’s Keeper Allegheny County / City of Pittsburgh committee.

Cmdr. Holmes oversaw the implementation of data driven, intelligence led policing in Pittsburgh with the establishment of the Bureau of Police Crime Analysis Unit and Real Time Crime Center, and he currently serves on the Major Cities Chiefs Intelligence Commanders Committee.

Cmdr. Holmes earned his bachelor’s degree in Communications from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Point Park University, and a certificate in executive leadership from Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business. Cmdr. Holmes is also a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police SMIP #77.

Cmdr. Holmes contributed to an article published in “The Hill” titled, Tackling the history of race and policing starts with well-informed officers. Cmdr. Holmes also has served on criminal justice panels at John Jay College, titled, “Lessons Learned from the National Initiative”, and New York Law Enforcement Symposium, titled, “Procedural Justice in 21st Century Policing”.

Cmdr. Holmes is a Principled Policing facilitator and serves as an adjunct college instructor.

Cmdr. Holmes belongs to a number of professional and volunteer activities (past and present) to include Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Pittsburgh Regional Champions, Leadership Pittsburgh LDI XVIII, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh Board of Directors, the YWCA Community Board of Directors, the City of Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission, and Amachi Pittsburgh.

Cmdr. Holmes has received numerous awards to include Who’s Who among students in American Colleges and Universities, Slippery Rock University Pacesetters Award, New Pittsburgh Courier Man of Excellence Award, and Community Service Award Alliance for Police Accountability.

Cmdr. Holmes is a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

In 2008, the Eric L. Holmes Criminal Justice Scholarship was established at Slippery Rock University.