Jessica Ryan — Instructor Profile

About Jessica Ryan

Captain Jessica Ryan has served with the Plantation Police Department in South Florida for 22 years. Early on in her career, she held assignments such as Field Training Officer, Police Explorer Advisor, Honor Guard member and investigator in the Criminal Investigations Division. Captain Ryan later became a detective with the Vice Intelligence & Narcotics Unit and served on two separate task forces with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office: Internet Crimes Against Children & Narcotics Interdiction. Over a decade was spent working multi-agency undercover operations alongside agents from DEA, FBI, HSI and local authorities. These complex operations involved narcotics transactions, narcotics interdiction, child pornography, child sex trafficking, prostitution, and human trafficking. In 2015, Captain Ryan was promoted to sergeant and supervised the road patrol division for four years. Another assignment during this time was serving as one of the department’s public information officers and Field Training Sergeants. In 2019, she was promoted to lieutenant and became the patrol night shift commander. In 2022, Captain Ryan was promoted to the rank of captain and commanded the Patrol Division, Community Service Aides, and the Community Engagement Unit. She is currently the divisional commander of the General Services Division which includes Communications, Records, Property and Evidence, Fleet/Building, and the department’s operating budget. Captain Ryan held the distinction of making history when she became the first female lieutenant then captain of the Plantation Police Department. Captain Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration. She graduated from the 81st Command Officers Development Course from the University of Louisville. In 2020, she completed the Florida Executive Development Seminar from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Captain Ryan has also completed the following three command leadership courses with FBI-LEEDA: the 290th Supervisor’s Leadership Institute, the 370th Command Leadership Institute, and the 379th Executive Leadership Institute. Jessica Ryan is also owner and CEO of JRyan Police Consulting, LLC. Her company is multi-faceted and includes promotional preparation training, professional development course instruction, and mentorship programs. She is also on the board of the non-profit organization, A Thinner Blue Line, who focuses on suicide awareness and prevention initiatives for first responders. Captain Ryan is a member of the Broward County Chiefs of Police Association, FBI-LEEDA, International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives.