National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)

National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) was founded in September 1976, during a three-day symposium to address crime in urban low-income areas. The symposium was co-sponsored by the Police Foundation and the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA). The Joint Center for Political Studies (JCPS) coordinated this unprecedented event in which sixty (60) top ranking black law enforcement executives representing twenty-four (24) states and fifty-five (55) major cities gathered in the Washington, D. C. area to participate. They exchanged views about the critically high rate of crime in black urban communities and the socioeconomic conditions that lead to crime and violence. They raised questions about relevant issues such as fairness in the administration of justice, police community relations, the hiring and promotion of black police officers, and the unique problems of the black police executive.Recognizing that black law enforcement executives could have a significantly more effective impact upon the criminal justice system through a unified voice, the symposium participants departed from the planned agenda to create NOBLE. They unanimously elected Hubert Williams, then Director of the Newark, New Jersey Police Department, and the first black police chief of a major city, as temporary chairman of NOBLE.

 

The Southern California Chapter
The Southern California Chapter’s 501 (c) 3 articles of incorporation were registered on April 12, 1985. Several of its members were the founding or charter Members of the National Association who went on to create one of the first local chapters. The founding officers were William A. Baker, Commander, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, James S. Ford, Chief, Los Angeles City Housing Police and Albert Reddick, Director, Los Angeles Community College District. This chapter has always been rich in its heritage of strong African-American Command Staff, which is evident by the forming fathers and the Charter Members. The first meeting was at the Loc Angeles City Hall Towers.

 

How do We Contribute
  • Provide holiday dinners to Martin Luther Elementary School, Los Angeles, CA and later Challengers Boys and Girl Club.
  • Our Chapter adopted this school in 1987. We have provided Christmas Dinners to 30-50 families each year. The dinner consists of one frozen turkey, items to prepare the dressing, sweet yams, cranberry sauce, string beans, and rolls. Additionally, whenever possible we provided toys to the families as well. In 2007, we began assisting Challengers Boys and Girls Club in feeding 30 families for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
Take 25
  • Take 25 is a National Program that we participate in annually during the month of May. The Chapter goes into various schools, Boys and Girls Clubs, and teach the children (kindergarten through Eight Grade) safety tips, associated with law enforcement and respect issues. Our partner in this program is the National Center of Missing & Exploited Children.
The Law and You
  • In a partnership with Allstate Insurance, we conducted seminars with preteens and teenagers in the communities to advise them how to interact when contacted blaw enforcement. Workbooks and scenarios videos were provided. Over the years this program has been redeveloped by NOBLE National and is named, the “Law in Youth”.
CRITAC
Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical assistance to law enforcement agencies in Southern California.
Training Conference Commitment
  • The National office requires that the Regions have at least one Training session for the region and business meeting. The cost of the conference is borne by the Chapters on alternate basis. The Southern California Chapter is one of six (6) active chapters in our region. As in the past SCC NOBLE will host the 2015 Region Six Training Symposium.
Donations to End of Watch (EOW) Funds
  • Our chapter’s policy is to donate to the family funds for law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty in the Southern California Area. Additionally, the Board considers donations to other families outside our area on a case-by-case basis.
National NOBLE Scholarship
  • Annually, we provide two $1,000.00 scholarships for high school students continuing their education.  Recently, we have partnered with the Community and donated $2,000.00 to various established scholarship funds.
Achievers Award
In response to the desire of Southern California Chapter- NOBLE to provide scholarships for at risk youth, who may not otherwise qualify for special funding, to continue their education beyond the high school level, Albert and Roberta Reddick, charter members of NOBLE and patriarch and matriarch of the Southern California Chapter, sat down at their kitchen table and conceived the concept of sponsoring an event to recognize truly outstanding achievers in the field of Law Enforcement in Southern California.
The criteria for selecting these achievers would be a minimum of ten years in law enforcement, they must be outstanding contributors or supporters to law enforcement and those collective contributions must be in concert with the mission goals and objectives of law enforcement, in general and NOBLE specifically.
The first Achiever’s Luncheon was held in 1987, after two years of informal discussions within the Southern California Chapter and has resulted in the awarding of numerous scholarship opportunities for deserving youth in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.  During 2001, under the dynamic leadership of Janet Williams, who was recruited by the Reddick’s, the Achiever’s Award Event was expanded into a black tie format with two newly named Awards: “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “Homer L. Garrott” for support of law enforcement and community service respectively.
Since 1987, with the assistance of supporters and donations we have been able to assist two students each year towards achieving their educational goals.  In 2014, we partnered with our religious community and other community organizations and they identified the recipient, since they were knowledgeable of their true needs and had established scholarships.
We hope that you will join and/or partner with us in some fiduciary manner so that SCC NOBLE will continue to grow and recognize scholastic and community service; and supporters of law enforcement and law enforcement achievers for many years to come.