General Counsel

John Cheek became General Counsel of the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (ONSE) in May of 2023. He is an experienced attorney with over a decade of service to the District. Prior to joining ONSE, he spent eight years in employment law as an Attorney Advisor with the DC Department of Human Resources (DCHR), handling matters involving employee relations, conducting workplace investigations, and reviewing legislation and rulemakings for legal sufficiency.

John is most proud of his legal work at DCHR in helping to establish the Career Pathways Apprenticeship Program, a program created to help candidates become exposed to and establish a base foundation for training and employment in high-demand industries such as IT and healthcare. Additionally, John previously worked at the District’s Office of Documents and Administrative Issuances and the former Office of Boards and Commissions. John is a Howard University School of Law graduate and lives in the District with his wife and two children.