Col. Evelyn Mallard, who has spent a devoted life working in law enforcement, has been sworn in as the first woman to hold the position of superintendent for the Ulster County Jail.

In an interview with the Daily Freeman, Mallard explained how she got into her career and what transpired after.

“It wasn’t a thing that really I had thought of, because back then — that was in the mid- to late ’80s — there weren’t a lot of women in law enforcement,” Mallard said. “So, it kind of happened accidentally.

Mallard served 30 years with the state police and 3 with the Orange County Sheriff’s office before retiring at the rank of colonel. She began working as a road patrol trooper, and eventually took the sergeants exam, getting promoted soon after.

Over those three decades, she worked in many roles as a field training officer, Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor, academy instructor, and as a director of training for the state police academy. She also graduated from the FBI National Academy.

She recounted one of her favorite moments on the job – finding a lost child. She said, “One of my favorite memories is finding a lost child and watching the mom hug her child and the feeling that I got that somehow I had a role in reuniting the two of them together. So things like that, it’s very rewarding.”

She met her husband, who is also retired from the police, while working for the state police, and they have three children together.

Mallard, who has a bachelors degree in accounting and a masters in public administration from Marist College, began teaching classes on criminal justice at the Rockland Community College after her children went to college. It was then she also decided to apply for the job of jail superintendent after finding it on an online listing board.

After applying and interviewing, she decided it was something she could make a difference in. She enjoys the challenge, and is hopeful she can bring in more programs and opportunities to help inmates.

“I certainly am honored to have the opportunity,” Mallard said. “I’m appreciative of the support of the sheriff. I know he’s very hard-working and very progressive. And he’s doing a lot of good things in the county. I’m just happy to be on board to do my part.” 

Mallard will replace Col. Jerome John, the first African American superintendent of the jail, who retired after two years of service.