Nat Glover
Encyclopedia
Nathaniel Glover, Jr., known as Nat Glover (born March 29, 1943), is an American college administrator and former police officer
and sheriff
. He is currently President of Edward Waters College
in Jacksonville, Florida
. Previously he was Sheriff of Jacksonville
from 1995–2003, after serving in the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
since 1966; he was the first African American
elected sheriff in Florida since the end of Reconstruction. He was succeeded by John Rutherford
.
, gathered in Hemming Park
, armed with axe handles and baseball bats, and attacked Civil rights
protesters. A group of black youth who were called the "Boomerangs" attempted to protect the demonstrators. Police, who had not intervened when the protesters were attacked, now became involved, arresting members of the Boomerangs and other black residents who had attempted to stop the beatings. Glover said he ran to the police, expecting them to arrest the thugs, but was told to leave town or risk being killed.
He graduated from Edward Waters College
in 1966 and received a master's degree
from the University of North Florida
; he also graduated from the 130th Session of the FBI National Academy
.
(JSO) in 1966, becoming an investigator in the Detective Division in 1969 and was promoted to Sergeant in 1974. In 1991, he was named Director of Police Services, one of the JSO's top positions. A political Democrat
and a long-time police officer, Glover was elected Sheriff of Jacksonville in 1995, and was re-elected in 1999.
Glover was serving at the time of the Brenton Butler case
in 2000, in which the 15-year-old Butler was falsely accused of murder. Butler confessed to the crime, but later testified that two JSO detectives, including Nat Glover's son Michael Glover, had physically attacked and coerced him into confessing. Butler was acquitted and the JSO and State Attorney's Office took the unusual step of apologizing to him. Michael Glover, who denied the allegation, retired from the Sheriff's Office to become a private investigator.
candidate John Peyton
, in the most expensive mayoral race in Jacksonville's history. An African-American had never served as mayor in Jacksonville, until Alvin Brown
's election on May 19, 2011. Glover's campaign focused on education, economic development, and managing the city's growth. "Jacksonville is poised for greatness. I want to be the mayor that allows us to show the state how great we are", Nat Glover said.
The campaign was briefly marred by racism; after Matt Carlucci, a white Republican candidate, endorsed Glover after being defeated in the open primary, his business was vandalized with racial slurs against Glover. Vandals also spray-painted racist graffiti on Glover's headquarters, though witnesses to the crime described the vandals of this incident as being black males.
After retiring from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Glover served on several boards, and was hired as a special adviser by University of North Florida
President John Delaney
, the former Mayor of Jacksonville.
Glover and his wife Doris J. Bailey have two children, two grandsons and a granddaughter. He says his most admired people are Martin Luther King, Jr.
and the Wright brothers
. Nat Glover stated "I always felt like if I could make the children and the senior citizens safe, everyone in between would be OK".
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
and sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
. He is currently President of Edward Waters College
Edward Waters College
-External links:* -- Official web site** at * Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs** **...
in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. Previously he was Sheriff of Jacksonville
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is a joint city-county law enforcement agency, which has primary responsibility for law enforcement, investigation, and corrections within the consolidated City of Jacksonville and Duval County, Florida, United States...
from 1995–2003, after serving in the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is a joint city-county law enforcement agency, which has primary responsibility for law enforcement, investigation, and corrections within the consolidated City of Jacksonville and Duval County, Florida, United States...
since 1966; he was the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
elected sheriff in Florida since the end of Reconstruction. He was succeeded by John Rutherford
John Rutherford (sheriff)
John Henry Rutherford is a career law enforcement officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. He has served as Duval County Sheriff since his election to the office in 2003; his current term expires in 2014.-Education:...
.
Life and education
Glover was born and attended public schools in Jacksonville. As a young man he experienced the racism of the early 1960s when he stumbled into Ax Handle Saturday. On that day, a group of 200 middle-aged and elderly white men, including some members of the Ku Klux KlanKu Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
, gathered in Hemming Park
Hemming Plaza
Hemming Plaza is a public park, located in the heart of the government center in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. It originally served as a village green, was the first and is the oldest park in the city.-Beginnings:...
, armed with axe handles and baseball bats, and attacked Civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
protesters. A group of black youth who were called the "Boomerangs" attempted to protect the demonstrators. Police, who had not intervened when the protesters were attacked, now became involved, arresting members of the Boomerangs and other black residents who had attempted to stop the beatings. Glover said he ran to the police, expecting them to arrest the thugs, but was told to leave town or risk being killed.
He graduated from Edward Waters College
Edward Waters College
-External links:* -- Official web site** at * Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs** **...
in 1966 and received a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of North Florida
University of North Florida
The University of North Florida is a public university located in Jacksonville, Florida. A member institution of the State University System of Florida, the university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s...
; he also graduated from the 130th Session of the FBI National Academy
FBI National Academy
The FBI National Academy is an independent program for U.S. and international law enforcement leaders. The first session began on July 29, 1935, with 23 students in attendance. At the time, professional development for law enforcement leaders was largely non-existent. The program focuses on...
.
Law enforcement career
Glover joined the Jacksonville Sheriff's OfficeJacksonville Sheriff's Office
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is a joint city-county law enforcement agency, which has primary responsibility for law enforcement, investigation, and corrections within the consolidated City of Jacksonville and Duval County, Florida, United States...
(JSO) in 1966, becoming an investigator in the Detective Division in 1969 and was promoted to Sergeant in 1974. In 1991, he was named Director of Police Services, one of the JSO's top positions. A political Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and a long-time police officer, Glover was elected Sheriff of Jacksonville in 1995, and was re-elected in 1999.
Glover was serving at the time of the Brenton Butler case
Brenton Butler case
The Brenton Butler case was a 2000 murder case in Jacksonville, Florida. During the investigation of a shooting death outside of a motel, police arrested 15-year-old Brenton Butler and charged him with the murder. Butler subsequently confessed to the crime, and the case went to trial...
in 2000, in which the 15-year-old Butler was falsely accused of murder. Butler confessed to the crime, but later testified that two JSO detectives, including Nat Glover's son Michael Glover, had physically attacked and coerced him into confessing. Butler was acquitted and the JSO and State Attorney's Office took the unusual step of apologizing to him. Michael Glover, who denied the allegation, retired from the Sheriff's Office to become a private investigator.
Mayoral candidate and later life
In 2003, Nat Glover ran for Mayor of Jacksonville but was defeated by RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate John Peyton
John Peyton (US politician)
John Stephens Peyton is an American businessman and politician. He served as Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 2003 to 2011. He was the second Republican to be elected to the position since 1888....
, in the most expensive mayoral race in Jacksonville's history. An African-American had never served as mayor in Jacksonville, until Alvin Brown
Alvin Brown (politician)
Alvin Brown is an American politician who is currently Mayor of Jacksonville, Florida. The first African American elected to the position, he succeeded John Peyton on July 1, 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Life and career:...
's election on May 19, 2011. Glover's campaign focused on education, economic development, and managing the city's growth. "Jacksonville is poised for greatness. I want to be the mayor that allows us to show the state how great we are", Nat Glover said.
The campaign was briefly marred by racism; after Matt Carlucci, a white Republican candidate, endorsed Glover after being defeated in the open primary, his business was vandalized with racial slurs against Glover. Vandals also spray-painted racist graffiti on Glover's headquarters, though witnesses to the crime described the vandals of this incident as being black males.
After retiring from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Glover served on several boards, and was hired as a special adviser by University of North Florida
University of North Florida
The University of North Florida is a public university located in Jacksonville, Florida. A member institution of the State University System of Florida, the university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award baccalaureate, master’s...
President John Delaney
John Delaney
John Adrian Delaney is an American lawyer, politician and university administrator. He currently serves as the president of the University of North Florida. A member of the Republican Party, he served as mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 1995 to 2003...
, the former Mayor of Jacksonville.
Glover and his wife Doris J. Bailey have two children, two grandsons and a granddaughter. He says his most admired people are Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
and the Wright brothers
Wright brothers
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur , were two Americans credited with inventing and building the world's first successful airplane and making the first controlled, powered and sustained heavier-than-air human flight, on December 17, 1903...
. Nat Glover stated "I always felt like if I could make the children and the senior citizens safe, everyone in between would be OK".