About the Department
Ms. Blake Norton
Chief Strategy Officer
Blake Norton is the Philadelphia Police Department’s Chief Strategy Officer. Ms. Norton has been on policing for over 30 years, and is a seasoned executive with significant operational experience in policing as well as a local government and nonprofit organizations. Her role as Chief Strategy Officer for the Philadelphia Police Department, focuses on identifying and encouraging the means to nurture innovative thinking across all areas of the Police Department, as well as the strategic implementation of new solutions to ensure the Department is operating within the principles of contemporary policing.
Prior to joining the Philadelphia Police Department Ms. Norton served as Senior Vice President of the National Police Foundation, advancing the organization’s developmental efforts, pilot projects, emerging collaborations and more traditional research, program development and implementation, training and technical assistance projects. She ensured strong, effective, and efficient execution of program plans and on-time delivery of high-quality deliverables. While working as the Foundation’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, she oversaw the daily operations of the Foundation, supporting its mission to improve American policing and enhance the capacity of the criminal justice system to function effectively.
Ms. Norton served as the Division Director for Local Government Initiatives at the Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, a national nonprofit organization that serves policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels from all branches of government.
During her tenure at the CSG Justice Center she oversaw four program areas: Law Enforcement, Mental Health, Reentry, and School Discipline. She led a team that provided technical assistance to cities, counties, and nonprofits focused on cross-system collaborations between law enforcement and other criminal justice entities, with a significant focus on the intersection between law enforcement and behavioral health systems.
Before joining the CSG Justice Center, Norton spent more than 19 years with the Boston Police Department, where her last position was as the Director of Public Affairs and Community Programs. She helped shape the agency's reentry efforts and successfully worked with citizens and faith-based organizations to build consensus for improving public safety. She designed and managed the police department's community affairs activities, including programs for court-involved and at-risk youth.
Ms. Norton is an expansive, entrepreneurial thinker with an outstanding record of achievement implementing new business strategies, delivering innovative solutions, and facilitating fundraising. She is known to be a strong problem-solver who identifies issues, researches solutions, and makes effective decisions. She is a resourceful and intuitive communicator who readily establishes trusting rapport with colleagues and collaborative partners.
She received her B.A. from the University of Massachusetts and her M.Ed. from Boston University. Ms. Norton began her work with the PPD on Monday, April 6, 2020.
"I am honored to be chosen by Commissioner Outlaw to work in the fourth largest police department in the nation, working who those hard working men and women, who protect and serve the city of Philadelphia. Being part of the Philadelphia Police Department as it works to build on the strengths and assets the Department has, and how to continue to policing may be made more efficient and responsive to the community."