Calvin Ross (born January 9, 1949) is an American former law enforcement officer who served as Chief of Police of the City of Miami from 1991 to 1994,[1] then served as Secretary of Juvenile Justice of Florida, overseeing juvenile justice programs, and finally served as police chief of Florida A&M University from 2001 to 2012. As the maternal uncle of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, elements of his career received attention in connection with their influence on then-Judge Jackson in the process leading up to her nomination to the United States Supreme Court.[2]
Early life and education
editBorn in Overtown, Ross grew up in Liberty City, two of the poorest areas in Miami.[3][4] He graduated from Biscayne College in Miami with a degree in criminal justice.[3]
Career
editRoss worked for the Miami police department for 23 years, beginning as a patrolman, and ultimately being named police chief in 1991.[3]
In 1992, Governor Lawton Chiles appointed Ross to a state panel on contraband forfeiture practices.[5] Ross was the only ethnic minority appointed to serve on the panel, which led to a protest from the NAACP. The governor responded by appointing two Hispanic members, but this did not alleviate dissatisfaction with the panel, given the disproportionate number of African-Americans in the juvenile justice system.[6]
In 1994, Governor Chiles named Ross "to lead a new state agency in charge of juvenile justice programs, everything from prevention and boot camps to long-term lockup".[4] The administration noted that in appointing Ross, Governor Chiles "wanted to signal a tougher approach to juvenile crime by selecting a career police officer".[3]
Ross later served for 11 years as police chief at Florida A&M University.[7]
Personal life
editRoss married a native Panamanian, with whom he had three children. He is a born-again Christian.[3]
References
edit- ^ "List of Miami police chiefs since 1921". WPLG. December 15, 2014.
- ^ Mazzei, Patricia; Savage, Charlie (January 30, 2022). "For Ketanji Brown Jackson, View of Criminal Justice Was Shaped by Family". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Barstow, David (July 8, 1994). "Juvenile Justice chief credits dad's tough love". Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ a b Hirth, Diane; San Martin, Nancy (July 7, 1994). "Miami Police Chief". Sun Sentinel.
- ^ "Governor read Sentinel report, appointed panel", The Orlando Sentinel (August 24, 1992), p. 5.
- ^ Bob Vogel, Fighting to Win (Turner, 2001), p. 152, ISBN 1563116278.
- ^ Beatty, Robert (April 4, 2012). "Florida A&M police chief Calvin Ross retires".