Captain Joseph McGee began his law enforcement career as a reserve deputy with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in 1994. In 1995, he accepted a position with the Birmingham Police Department, where he served as a patrol officer, departmental defensive tactics instructor, and narcotics detective.
In 1999, McGee was hired by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. As a deputy sheriff, he served as a patrol deputy, criminal investigator, departmental instructor, honor guard member, and member of the tactical response unit. In 2004, McGee was promoted to sergeant. As a sergeant, he served as a patrol supervisor, agency training coordinator, Tactical Response Unit team leader, and supervisor at the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force. In 2012, McGee was promoted to lieutenant and assigned as a patrol watch commander. He was later appointed as the assistant division commander of the Patrol Division. In December of 2022, McGee was promoted to captain, and serves as Commander of the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force and Executive Director of Shelby County Compact.
McGee holds a Master of Science Degree in Justice Administration from the University of Louisville, a Bachelor’s Degree in Leadership from Bellevue University, and an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Jefferson State. He is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute’s 120th Administrative Officers Course. McGee is also a graduate of the 2012 Leadership Shelby County class.