LeRoy Martin (1929 − August 31, 2013) was an American police officer for the

Chicago Police Department The Chicago Police Department (CPD) is the municipal law enforcement agency of the U.S. city of Chicago, Illinois, under the jurisdiction of the City Council. It is the second-largest municipal police department in the United States, behind t ...

. In November 1987, Martin became the third African-American and second permanent to serve as superintendent of the department, following the retirement of Fred Rice Jr. (who is noted as the Chicago first permanent African-American police superintendent, Samuel Nolan was the Chicago's first African-American police superintendent who served as interim in 1979).

Biography

Early life and education

Martin was born the fourth of five children in 1929 in Chicago, Illinois. His parents migrated to Chicago from Grenada, Mississippi in the early-1920s.WTTW Chicago (VIDEO), Remembering Chicago Police Superintendent LeRoy Martin, 9/2/2013
/ref> Martin's father was a pullman porter. Martin was raised in the North Lawndale neighborhood on the city's west side, attending Richard T. Crane Technical High School. Martin later earned a master's degree in Public Administration and a bachelor's degree from Roosevelt University.

Career

In the 1950s, Martin worked as a bus driver for the Chicago Transit Authority. Martin joined the

in 1955 as a patrolman in the Woodlawn and Burnside neighborhoods on the city's south side. Martin was appointed superintendent of the Chicago Police Department by mayor Harold Washington on November 18, 1987. Martin served as superintendent until January 1992. After his term as superintendent, Martin served as the Director of Public Safety for the Chicago Housing Authority from 1992 until 1994. Thereafter, Martin worked in the private sector security director for Central Management Services. In

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The '' Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for frozen water, in soil in permanently ...

, Martin ran as a Republican, challenging

Michael F. Sheahan Michael F. Sheahan (born 1944/1945) is an American politician and sheriff. He formerly served as Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois and as a Chicago alderman. Early life Sheahan was born in 1944 or 1945. He received a Master of Education from Gove ...

to be the

Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois The Cook County Sheriff is the Sheriffs in the United States, sheriff of Cook County, Illinois, Cook County, Illinois, heading the Cook County Sheriff's Office. Office description Terms are currently four-years in length. Officeholders Rec ...

. Martin was unsuccessful.

Personal life and death

Martin was married to Constance B. MartinJUDGE LeROY MARTIN JR. TRANSLATES LIFE LESSONS INTO SERVICE
/ref> at the time of his death, having been married since 1954. Together, they had three children, Ron, LeRoy Jr., and Dawn. Martin died of a heart attack on August 31, 2013, aged 84, in

Dyer, Indiana Dyer is a town in St. John Township, Lake County, Indiana, United States. The population was 16,517 at the 2020 census. It is a southeastern suburb of Chicago. Geography Dyer borders Munster to the north, unincorporated St. John Township to ...

. A funeral service was held for Martin on September 6, 2013, gathering hundreds.Former Chicago police Supt. LeRoy Martin mourned
/ref>

Electoral history

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, LeRoy 1929 births 2013 deaths Superintendents of the Chicago Police Department Illinois Republicans Roosevelt University alumni African-American police officers