Calvin Ross

Calvin Ross was born on January 9, 1949, in Overtown, Miami, and grew up in Liberty City, both economically disadvantaged areas. He pursued higher education, graduating from Biscayne College in Miami with a degree in criminal justice. Ross began his extensive career in law enforcement as a patrolman with the Miami police department, where he dedicated 23 years. His commitment and rise through the ranks culminated in his appointment as Chief of Police for the City of Miami in 1991, a position he held until 1994. During his tenure as chief, Ross was known for his advocacy of community policing and his focus on improving the safety and well-being of the communities he served in Miami.

Following his role as Miami’s Police Chief, Ross was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles in 1994 to lead the newly created state Department of Juvenile Justice as its Secretary. In this capacity, he was tasked with overseeing juvenile justice programs across Florida, including prevention efforts, boot camps, and long-term detention facilities. The administration specifically sought a career police officer for this role to signal a more robust approach to juvenile crime. Ross emphasized a “tough love” ethic, aiming to address the perception of leniency within the juvenile system while also advocating for intervention and prevention for less serious offenders.

After his service as Secretary of Juvenile Justice, Calvin Ross continued his career in law enforcement in an academic setting. He served for an additional 11 years as the police chief at Florida A&M University, from 2001 until his retirement in 2012. His 40-year career in law enforcement demonstrated a consistent dedication to public service and community safety, spanning municipal policing, state-level juvenile justice administration, and university police leadership.