Charles Cobbertt - retired Police Director
Charles "Charlie" Cobbertt’s life story is a powerful example of overcoming adversity and leading revolutionary change. Charlie’s early life, deeply influenced by his upbringing in the segregated South, set a foundation of resilience and determination. He was born on June 24, 1939, in Drew, Mississippi, a place and time rife with poverty and racial challenges. Moving to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family at a very young age, further exposed him to the stark inequalities of the time, deeply influencing his perspective and sense of justice. His journey from Mississippi to New Jersey was marked by personal growth, shaped by the struggles and experiences of living as a Black person in America during that era. At Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Charlie's sense of social awareness and responsibility began to take root. This period was crucial in developing the values and strengths he would carry into adulthood. Rising to become the first African American Police D