William O'Brien (police officer)

William O'Brien (March 10, 1944 – March 3, 2016) was an American police officer who served as the 21st Police Chief of Miami, Florida, from 1998 until 2000. O'Brien served as a Miami Police Department police officer for more than 25 years, including 18 years as a member of the city's SWAT team and two years as Miami Police Chief.[1][2][3] He resigned as chief on April 28, 2000, in the aftermath of the Elián González custody battle raid.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] The resignation has been studied as a case in criminal justice and political ethics.[10][11][12] He was highly critical of the Miami mayor's handling of the situation, leading to his forced resignation.[13][14][15]

Bill O'Brien, who was raised in La Grange, Illinois, first moved to Miami to study political science at the University of Miami.[3] He then joined the United States Air Force for five years, during which he piloted C-130 Hercules in combat during the Vietnam War.[3] O'Brien sought to become a professional pilot after the war, but could not find a job in the field during the oil embargo in 1973.[3] Instead, O'Brien became a police officer, despite his dislike of guns.[3]

O'Brien died from throat cancer at his home in Tavernier, Florida, on March 3, 2016, at the age of 71.[3]

References
  1. Bill (December 16, 2010). "Miami Archives - Tracing the rich history of Miami, Miami Beach and the Florida Keys: Miami's police chiefs: a troubled history". miamiarchives.blogspot.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  2. "List of Miami police chiefs since 1921". WPLG. December 15, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  3. Harris, Alex (March 4, 2016). "Former Miami Police Chief Bill O'Brien dies at his Tavernier home". Miami Herald. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  4. Bragg, Rick (April 29, 2000). "Miami Police Chief Quits in Raid Fallout". New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2016.
  5. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2000/04/29/police-chief-resigns-in-elian-controversy/d6724531-7c51-4861-b0bd-ae7da5ea8f05/
  6. "2nd top Miami officer may leave". www.latinamericanstudies.org. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  7. "CNN Transcript - Special Event: Miami Police Chief Retires - April 28, 2000". www.cnn.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  8. Services, Tribune News. "MIAMI APPOINTS CUBAN-BORN EX-COP AS NEW POLICE CHIEF". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  9. "Miami in turmoil as police chief quits over Elian". The Independent. April 29, 2000. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  10. Sun, Baltimore. "Ethnic politics in Miami; Mayor Carollo: Grandstanding flouted law and order and risked safety of Elian Gonzalez". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  11. Souryal, Sam S. (October 29, 2010). "Ethics in Criminal Justice: In Search of the Truth". Routledge. Retrieved February 6, 2019 – via Google Books.
  12. Fernández, Alfredo Antonio (February 6, 2019). "Adrift: The Cuban Raft People". Arte Publico Press. Retrieved February 6, 2019 – via Google Books.
  13. "Miami police chief quits, calls mayor 'divisive and destructive' Turmoil escalates a day after city manager was fired". DeseretNews.com. April 29, 2000. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  14. times, Rick Bragg new york. "MORE CHAOS IN MIAMI - TOP COP RESIGNS". OrlandoSentinel.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  15. "Police chief resigns in Elian row". www.irishtimes.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.

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