Born in South Chicago on May 13, 1955, to parents who were both teachers, Gerald Richard understands the value and importance of education, as do his three sisters. His father was not only a teacher, but also a track coach who shared the love of the sport with his son and taught him to train his mind as well as his body.
In 1974, the love of track would lead Gerald Richard to Arizona State University on a scholarship he earned for excelling at hurdles. In fact he loved the weather and the opportunities in Arizona so much he stayed in the Valley after graduating from the College of Business in 1978.
After graduation Gerald Richard revisited his dream of becoming an attorney, which is what he wanted to be when he grew up. He had made that life decision when he was in the fifth grade and never lost sight of his goal.
True to his dream, Gerald Richard earned his Juris Doctorate from Arizona State University in 1985 and clerked for The Honorable Edward C. Voss, III in Superior Court until joining the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office in January 1986. Once at the MCAO he worked his way from law clerk, to the Trial Bureau and finally to the Specialized Crimes Division where he was assigned to the Organized Crime Bureau and responsible for the special prosecution of street gangs and occult criminal activity.
In 1989, he joined the Phoenix Police Department as a Legal Advisor for Chief Reuben Ortega and was promoted to Special Assistant to the Chief in 1992 by Chief Dennis Garrett. After one very successful year as Special Assistant, Chief Garrett made him the first and only Police Director, which is a civilian Assistant Chief responsible for the Community Relations Bureau, Training Bureau, Public Information Bureau, Employment Services and the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Liaisons.
Gerald Richard also had direct supervision over the Phoenix Police Department’s Legal Unit, Legislative Unit, Incident Review Unit, Mayor’s Detail and Inspections Unit. He retired from the Phoenix Police Department in March 2008 after an illustrious and successful legal career in which he was the first civilian in PPD history to exercise as much responsibility and authority as a sworn-Assistant Chief in the Police Department.
His service and dedication to the community, with a focus on quality of life issues, are evident in his nationally recognized approach in addressing youth, gang, and police and community relations. Gerald Richard’s expertise and experience in these areas as well as his professional leadership have earned him the respect of the law enforcement community as well as a reputation as an innovative law enforcement leader.
Raising a family, working full-time and community involvement on different civic and government committees, Gerald Richard managed to find time to earn a Masters of Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University and is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University where he also serves as an adjunct faculty member teaching leadership skills.
Life has a funny way of coming full-circle; and for Gerald Richard his circle is almost complete — he has pursued his education relentlessly always challenging himself to new heights earning a bachelors, a juris doctorate, a masters and now is close to completing his PhD. He volunteers as a track coach because he wants to give back to the community through his love of the sport, which he learned from his father and is initially what brought him to Arizona. Gerald Richard’s life circle will truly be complete when he is the next Maricopa County Attorney — this is where he began his legal career and where he wants his professional career to end. The circle will be complete.
He and his wife of nearly 24 years live in Phoenix and have two daughters. |
