Michael Cox (police officer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Cox
44th Commissioner of the Boston Police Department
Incumbent
Assumed office August 15, 2022
Mayor	Michelle Wu
Preceded by	Dennis White Gregory Long (acting)
Chief of the Ann Arbor Police Department
In office September 2019 – July 2022
Preceded by	Robert Pfannes (interim)
Succeeded by	Aimee Metzer (interim)
Personal details
Born	(1965-06-17) June 17, 1965 (age 60) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Military service
Years of service	BPD: 1989–2019 AAPD: 2019–2022 BPD: 2022–present
Rank	BPD: all ranks from Officer to Superintendent AAPD: Chief of Police BPD: Commissioner

Michael A. Cox (born June 17, 1965) is an American police officer. He is currently the commissioner of the Boston Police Department. Before this, he was the chief of police in Ann Arbor, Michigan, from 2019 to 2022.

Early Life and Education

Michael Cox was born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1965. He was the youngest of six children in his family. He went to private schools, including Milton Academy and Wooster School. In 1984, he was accepted into Providence College.

Police Career

Joining the Boston Police Department

In the early 1990s, Michael Cox joined the Boston Police Department (BPD). At that time, there were many challenges in policing. Officers sometimes used tactics like stop and frisk often.

A Difficult Incident

In 1995, Michael Cox was involved in a high-speed car chase. He continued the chase on foot. During this, he was mistakenly identified as a suspect by other officers. He was badly hurt and had to go to the hospital. He suffered a serious brain injury.

After this event, the officers involved did not report what happened. Michael Cox later learned about it from newspaper stories. He also received upsetting phone calls from other officers. He decided to file a lawsuit. The BPD settled with him, paying $900,000 in damages. Three officers were later fired, but one was able to return to duty. Michael Cox's experience was written about in a book called The Fence.

Moving to Ann Arbor and Back to Boston

Cox (center) with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey (left) and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu at the 2023 South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade

By 2013, Michael Cox had become a Deputy Superintendent in the BPD. By 2019, he was a Superintendent. This is the second highest rank in the BPD. He led the Bureau of Professional Development and the Police Academy.

In September 2019, Cox became the chief of police for Ann Arbor, Michigan. He worked there until July 31, 2022.

Cox speaks at a press conference held in advance of the 2024 Boston Marathon

In July 2022, Mayor of Boston Michelle Wu announced that Michael Cox would be the new commissioner of the Boston police. He officially started this role on August 15, 2022.

Family Life

As of 2024, Michael Cox is married and has three children. One of his children is Michael Cox, who played football for the UMass Minutemen and the New York Giants.