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Shelby County Jail Chief Stepping Down – New Chief Appointed

Release Date: July 7, 2004

Shelby County Sheriff Mark H. Luttrell, Jr., says Joseph Ponte, Chief Jailer at the Shelby County Jail, will be resigning his post at the end of the month. His replacement, James E. Coleman, the current Assistant Chief of Programs, will be the new Chief Jailer on August 1, 2004.

“Chief Ponte is leaving in excellent standing. We are losing one of the most talented prison officials I have ever worked with. Chief Ponte has served the citizens of Shelby County faithfully and professionally. We extend to him our thanks for a job well done as he returns to his family home in Franklin, Massachusetts,” said Sheriff Luttrell.

Chief Ponte, 58, has been in the field of corrections for almost 35 years. He came to Memphis in 2001 after having served as Administrator of Prisons for the State of Idaho. Chief Ponte initially served as Assistant Chief of Security of the Shelby County Jail. He was then appointed Interim Chief, and was officially appointed by Sheriff Luttrell as Chief Jailer on November 19, 2002.

Joseph Ponte	James E. Coleman

“I have considered it a privilege and a pleasure to serve with Sheriff Luttrell and the staff at the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Our efforts have certainly raised the staff to new levels of professionalism and dedication. I’ll be returning home to be near my two children and my parents, who are in their 80’s. Besides a dedication to my profession, I am also called to be dedicated to the family whom I love dearly,” said Chief Ponte.

Under Chief Ponte’s leadership, the Shelby County Jail received its first State of Tennessee Certification in more than a decade. He also was successful in correcting all deficiencies at the Shelby County Jail noted during inspections by the Department of Justice. Chief Ponte also led the successful effort for the Shelby County Jail to receive national accreditation for the medical unit.

James E. Coleman, the current Assistant Chief of Programs at the Shelby County Jail, will take over as Chief Jailer. Coleman, 52, joined the staff of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in 2001.

Before that, he served in various roles in the corrections industry for the last 30 years. Since 1974 he has held positions with the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Corrections Institute, Tennessee Board of Paroles and the Union County New Jersey Division of Corrections.

Coleman graduated in 1978 with a BS in Criminal Justice from Tennessee State University. He is married and has one daughter.

“I’m very excited to have this opportunity to be appointed by Sheriff Luttrell to be the Chief Jailer. I’ll be filling some big shoes. Chief Ponte has been an inspiration to me and to so many others. I will do all I can to continue Chief Ponte’s efforts to improve living conditions at the jail and ensure that the inmates are in a safe and secure facility. We will also maintain the high levels of professionalism for our staff,” said Chief Coleman.

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