Delrish Moss facts for kids

Delrish Moss is a police chief who has worked in law enforcement for over 30 years. He is currently the Police Chief for the Miramar Police Department in Florida. He has also served as a police chief in Ferguson, Missouri, and worked for the Miami Police Department.

About Delrish Moss

Delrish Moss is a respected leader in law enforcement. He is currently the Police Chief for the Miramar Police Department. Before this, he was a Captain with the Florida International University Police Department.

In March 2016, Chief Moss was chosen to lead the Ferguson Police Department (Missouri) in Ferguson, Missouri. He became the first permanent African American chief in Ferguson when he was sworn in on May 9, 2016. Ferguson is a town near St. Louis. Chief Moss worked hard to bring positive changes and improve trust between the police and the community there. He left this role in October 2018 to return to Miami.

Early Life and Education

Delrish Moss was born in Miami, Florida. He grew up in a neighborhood called Overtown. He saw a lot of violence in his community. He even experienced being stopped by a police officer for no clear reason. These experiences made him want to become a police officer. He said he "wanted to teach police how to treat people."

Moss finished high school at Miami High School in 1982.

His Career in Law Enforcement

Delrish Moss started his career in 1984. He worked as a public service aide for the Miami Police Department. He quickly decided he wanted to be a police officer.

Working as a Patrolman

Within three years, he became a patrolman. He worked in Miami's historic Black communities. These included Overtown, Liberty City, Allapattah, and Coconut Grove. In 1989, he was promoted to homicide detective. This meant he investigated serious crimes.

Becoming a Spokesperson

In 1995, Police Chief Donald Warsaw asked Moss to become a spokesman for the city. In this role, Moss spoke for the police department. He gained national attention in 2000. This was when he spoke during a difficult time in Little Havana.

Later, in 2009, Police Chief John Timoney added Moss to his leadership team. In 2011, Chief Manuel Orosa promoted Moss to major. Moss led the Public Information and Community Relations division. He worked directly with the Chief of Police. Chief Orosa said Moss helped improve the relationship between Miami's African-American communities and the police. Moss was very active in community outreach. He helped turn difficult relationships into productive ones.

Leading in Ferguson

Chief Moss has over 30 years of experience. He was chosen as Police Chief in Ferguson from 53 other applicants. He was sworn in shortly after a federal judge approved an agreement for Ferguson. This agreement was with the United States Department of Justice. It aimed to fix issues with racial bias in the town's justice system.

In Missouri, Chief Moss focused on making important changes. Some of these changes were required by the U.S. Department of Justice. His work helped bring new reforms to the police department.

Community Involvement

Delrish Moss has also been involved in community groups. He served as president of the Miami Police Athletic League. This group helps young people through sports. He is also a member of the NAACP. This organization works for civil rights.