Melvin C. High, the 12 years-long sheriff of Prince George’s County after serving as its police chief, passed away at the age of 78. Let’s see more about who is Melvin C. High and his cause of death.
Melvin C. High Cause of death
The sheriff’s office said High was feeling ill and checked into Washington Hospital Center. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at an area hospital on Thursday. His cause of death was not revealed. In a statement, previous chief assistant sheriff and now current Prince George’s County Sheriff Darrin C. Palmer said High was “dearly loved” and “respected.”
County officials held a news conference Thursday to announce his passing.
Who is Melvin C. High
Melvin C. High is chief of police, Born in Union County, Mississippi, on September 5, 1944. Tennessee State University, B.S. (biology), 1966. Southeastern University, M.B.P.A. (business & public administration), 1980. Served in U.S. Marine Corps., 1967-69. Public Safety Consultant, Police Performance Solutions, LLC, 2008-10. Member, National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives; International Association of Chiefs of Police, 1985-2008; Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, 1993-2003; Hampton Roads Association of Chiefs of Police, 1993-2003; Maryland Association of Chiefs of Police, 2003-08; Prince George’s County Police Chiefs Association, 2003-08.
Melvin High Career
Melvin C. High began his career as a police officer in Washington, D.C., where he eventually ascended to the position of assistant chief. High assisted in the department’s diversification by hiring and guiding additional Black and female officers. Before becoming police chief in Prince George’s, he was head of the Norfolk Police Department. He is recognized for leading the department through a difficult period and reforming it since it was subject to a federal consent decree. He had been the county’s police chief for five years before to becoming sheriff, making him a familiar figure in the area’s law enforcement.
Chief of Police, Prince George’s County, 2003-08. Member, Public Safety Pension Committee, Prince George’s County, 2003-08. Vice-Chair, Police Chiefs Subcommittee, Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments, 2005-06. Member, Economic Development Corporation, Prince George’s County, 2014-
Assistant Police Chief, Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, DC, 1987-93 (began as a patrol officer in 1969). Police Chief, Norfolk Police Department, Norfolk, Virginia, 1993-2003.
Palmer claimed that throughout the previous twelve years, Sheriff High modernized the sheriff’s office by emphasizing the agency’s professional development, superior training, efficient service delivery, and accountability. High was tasked with overseeing more than 300 officers in terms of safety and crime prevention after being sworn in as sheriff on December 7, 2010.
Awards and Appreciation
Sheriff High has won numerous honors for his dedication to community service. He was awarded a mayoral citation for successfully leading the investigation and capture of the “shotgun bandit,” a serial killer who terrorized the District for three months in 1993.
In the same year, he also received a letter of gratitude from President Bill Clinton for his assistance to tourists and residents of Washington, D.C. He has also received a number of other honors, such as the W Garner Community Service Award from the Norfolk chapter of the NAACP in 2001 and the “Real Dream” award from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Life Institute in 1998.
News conference held after the death of Melvin High
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Also brooks released the following statement Thursday upon learning of the passing of Prince George’s County Sheriff Melvin High: “We are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Sheriff Melvin High. Sheriff High has been a dedicated public servant to the residents of Prince George’s County for nearly 20 years and will be remembered for his service to our community and commitment to the safety of Prince Georgians.
“Sheriff High had a distinguished career in law enforcement, holding a number of positions in the Washington Metropolitan area, including Chief of Police for Norfolk, Virginia, and Prince George’s County, as well as Assistant Chief of Police for Washington, D.C. During his nearly 12-year career as our sheriff, he worked diligently to guarantee the security and well-being of people and families in our neighborhood. During his term, Sheriff High played a significant role in the community’s efforts to combat domestic abuse, helping to establish the annual Purple Light Nights Program in October.
Paying Tributes
Previous chief assistant sheriff and now current Prince George’s County Sheriff Darrin C. Palmer said High was “dearly loved” and “respected.”
The beloved sheriff leaves behind his wife, Brenda, and his daughter, Tracy.
Prince George’s County Executive Angela Also brooks called High a “dedicated public servant” who will be remembered for his service to the community and commitment to the safety of Prince Georgians.
Prince George's County sheriff Melvin C. High has died unexpectedly at the age of 78. High was feeling ill and checked into Washington Hospital Center where he passed away. https://t.co/6f6aIJUtVC
— WMAR-2 News (@WMAR2News) November 18, 2022
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