Wesley Pomeroy facts for kids

Wesley A.C. Pomeroy (born January 1, 1920 – died May 4, 1998) was an American lawyer and a key figure in law enforcement and government. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney General and helped create several important organizations focused on humanitarian work and public policy.

Wesley Pomeroy's Early Life and Career

Wesley Pomeroy was born in Burbank, California. He went to Pacific Union College in Napa County, where he met his future wife, Marjorie Cusick. His career in law enforcement began as a state trooper with the California Highway Patrol.

In 1943, Wesley joined the Marines and served in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, he returned to his job as a California Highway Patrol officer. In 1951, he joined the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. He worked his way up to become the undersheriff in 1960. While in this role, he started new programs like work-furlough and honor camp facilities. These programs allowed inmates to work in the community or live in less restrictive camps, which was very new at the time. During these years, he also studied law in the evenings and earned a law degree from San Francisco Law School, becoming a lawyer.

In 1964, Wesley Pomeroy was put in charge of security for the 1964 Republican National Convention held in the Cow Palace in San Francisco. This event was quite challenging because there were disagreements within the Republican Party itself, as well as protests from people against the war and those supporting civil rights. Usually, political conventions didn't have much security unless a president was there. But because of threats, Pomeroy was brought in to manage 18 different police groups. Thanks to his calm and skilled leadership, the convention went smoothly without major problems. He continued to advise on security for national political conventions until 1992.

Serving the Government

Wesley Pomeroy's success at the 1964 Republican National Convention caught national attention. In 1967, he became a coordinator for federal law enforcement. He managed the Federal Command Post at the Conrad Hilton hotel in Chicago during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. This hotel overlooked Grant Park, where many protests were happening.

Chicago's Mayor Richard Daley had asked for federal help because of threats from protesters. Pomeroy found Mayor Daley's methods difficult, especially making officers work 12-hour shifts. He also realized he couldn't directly control the Chicago police. However, he did have authority over the Illinois National Guard. He used this power to have the National Guard replace the Chicago Police Department at various times, including one night in front of the Hilton hotel. Many believe that Wesley Pomeroy's actions helped prevent the situation from becoming much worse, despite the challenges.

In 1968, Ramsey Clark, who was the United States Attorney General, appointed Pomeroy as an United States Assistant Attorney General. In this role, he helped coordinate efforts to fight crime and led the federal investigation into the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.. He also created plans to protect government buildings in Washington, D.C.

President Lyndon B. Johnson then appointed Pomeroy to help lead the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration. He left this position when Richard Nixon became President of the United States in late 1969.

Ramsey Clark later spoke highly of Pomeroy, saying he was a kind person who worked hard to reduce violence. Clark noted that Pomeroy was one of the few law enforcement leaders who truly cared about people and believed that safety comes from understanding, not just force.

Pomeroy returned to public service in 1977 during the Carter administration.

Woodstock Festival Security

One of the most famous parts of Wesley Pomeroy's career was his role as vice president and director of security for the Woodstock Festival in 1969. This huge music festival had famous bands and nearly 500,000 people attending. Despite the massive crowd, there were only two accidental deaths. After Woodstock, Pomeroy also managed security for some major band tours in the U.S., including Led Zeppelin.

Life After Government Service

From 1969 to 1971, Wesley Pomeroy ran a consulting firm focused on criminal justice. In 1971, he moved his family to Minnesota to work for the University of Minnesota. The university's board appointed him as the director of safety and development. He stayed in this role until 1974, when he decided to return to traditional law enforcement.

Pomeroy moved back to California and became the chief of police in Berkeley, California. He left this job in 1977 when he was asked to serve in President Jimmy Carter's administration.

After President Carter left office, Pomeroy became the deputy director of the Michigan Department of Mental Health. He was later recognized as an honorary fellow by the American Psychiatric Association, an award rarely given to people who are not doctors.

In 1983, Pomeroy became the executive director of the Miami-Dade Independent Review Panel. This group reviews complaints against police. His work there was so important that the rules for mandatory retirement were paused twice so he could continue his service. He finally retired in 1995 after having heart bypass surgery.

Involvement in Organizations

Wesley Pomeroy was very important in starting and advising many well-known organizations. He was the founder and first president of the International Association of the Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement, which is now called the National Association of the Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement. He also helped create the Police Executive Research Forum and was a founding member of the International Study of Panetics.

He was a long-time member of several other groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (where he also served on the board), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the American Psychiatric Association.

Later Years

Wesley Pomeroy passed away on May 4, 1998, at the age of 78, at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, FL. He died from complications related to heart failure.

He was survived by his second wife, Lonna P. Carroll, and three daughters: Nancy Bucher, Virginia Pomeroy, and Victoria Pomeroy. He also had five grandchildren, four stepchildren, and seven step-grandchildren, plus three step-great-grandchildren. Sadly, one of his daughters, Patricia Pomeroy, passed away before him.