Today, the City of Ferguson, Missouri announced that Commander Andre Anderson of the Glendale Police Department had been selected as their interim Chief of Police.
Glendale Police Chief Debora Black stated, “Andre is uniquely and exceptionally qualified to serve as Ferguson’s Interim Police Chief. I have tremendous respect for Chief Anderson; I am confident he will serve members of the Ferguson community as capably as he has served the City of Glendale. We wish him the best of success!”
Andre C. Anderson is a Commander with the Glendale Police Department assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division where he leads the activity of a number of detectives from Homicide, Fraud and Computer Forensics, Family Violence as well as all undercover operations to include joint task force agents assigned to the DEA, FBI and U.S. Marshals.
As a prior Patrol Commander, Commander Anderson was responsible for significant crime reductions as he built sustainable community partnerships over an area comprised of over 110,000 residents spread over 25 square miles. His responsibilities within that area included the University of Phoenix Stadium (Arizona Cardinals), Westgate Entertainment District, Gila River Arena (Arizona Coyotes), the Glendale Airport, Luke Air Force Base, the Neighborhood Response Unit, Downtown Neighborhood Response Unit, Community Response Unit (property crimes detectives), Community Action Team and over 100 uniformed patrol officers. He led the Department’s efforts with respect to the Bureau of Justice/Department of Justice’s Smart Policing Initiative on Crime Social Network Analysis. This evidence-based strategy proved to be an efficient manner in which to identify a targeted response to crime while creating an effective balance with community engagement.
Commander Anderson has served 16 years at the leadership level and has over 24 years of service as a police officer with the Glendale Police Department. He is known as an innovative leader and has been recognized at both the national and local level for creating directives with key initiatives in management, employee development, strategic planning, policy writing, turn-around strategies and community engagement. Commander Anderson leverages experience with forward thinking, cost-efficient ideas, organizational courage and executive decision-making skill.
Commander Anderson strongly believes that “The identification of dedicated police professionals, who exemplify the organization’s image, while remaining committed to community policing and the organization’s values, are the keys to success.”
Commander Anderson is a United States Army Veteran, prior professional athlete (boxer), holds a Master’s Degree in Education and Leadership from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Safety Administration from Grand Canyon University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (Class 251), Northwestern Police and Staff Command School and West Point’s Leadership in Police Organizations Command School.
Nationally, he served as the Region Six Vice President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) where he led the activities of several chapters. He also served as a co-chair for the National Civil Rights Committee and has been recognized both nationally and locally as an organizational mentor/change agent. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and he has been asked to serve as the Special Assistant to the in-coming National President of NOBLE to aid in developing the national “Law and You” program. This program aspires to create a national community dialogue and will be working with others to usher in the six pillars from the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
Commander Anderson is married, an avid chess player, Philadelphia Eagles sports fan, led by faith and enjoys making cheesesteaks and spending time with family and friends.