LeRoy Martin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids LeRoy Martin
Martin, c. 1981
Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department
In office November 18, 1987 – January 29, 1992
Appointed by	Harold Washington
Preceded by	Fred Rice Jr.
Succeeded by	Matt Rodriguez
Personal details
Born	1929 (1929) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	August 31, 2013(2013-08-31) (aged 83–84) Dyer, Indiana, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Constance B. Martin ​ (m. 1954)​
Children	3
Alma mater	Roosevelt University
Occupation	Police officer superintendent
Police career
Department	Chicago Police Department
Years of service	1955−1992
Rank	Superintendent (sworn in November 1987)

LeRoy Martin (1929 − August 31, 2013) was an American police officer for the Chicago Police Department. 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. 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 Chicago Police Department 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, Martin ran as a Republican, challenging Michael F. Sheahan to be the Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois. Martin was unsuccessful.

Personal life and death

Martin was married to Constance B. Martin 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. A funeral service was held for Martin on September 6, 2013, gathering hundreds.

Electoral history