U.S. President Joseph R. Biden nominated executive assistant to Alabama State University President Quinton T. Ross Jr., Ed.D., to be the next United State Marshal for the Middle District of Alabama, which is headquartered in Montgomery.
Col. John E. Richardson was tapped by Biden to be the top law enforcement officer for Alabama’s Middle District. His responsibilities encompass leading and directing operations that include criminal investigations, fugitive apprehension, tactical operations, execution of federal court orders, security and protection of the United States courts and more.
“It is an absolute honor just to be considered, much less nominated by the president of the United States, to this critical crime fighting position,” said Richardson. “My 35 years in the field of policing and leadership positions in law enforcement pale in comparison to being nominated to this new position, and I consider it the crowning glory of my career.”
The position Richardson has been nominated to lead comprises 23 counties that include as far north as Randolph County and all the way south to Houston County. Once confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Richardson will replace Jesse Seroyer, Jr., who was appointed by President Donald J. Trump in March 2018 and earlier served in the position under President George W. Bush.
Richardson, a U.S. Marine veteran, began his career in his hometown as a patrol officer with the Opelika Police Department and then went to work for the state of Alabama as an agent with the ABC Board Enforcement Division’s narcotic bureau. He earned the rank of captain and later became the assistant director of its entire Enforcement Division.
He then became Alabama’s top law enforcement official when Gov. Robert Bentley named Richardson as colonel and director of public safety for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (Alabama State Troopers), where he was instrumental in consolidating Alabama’s law enforcement statewide.
In a news release from the White House press office, it commented on Col. Richardson as among 27 nominees named by President Biden to serve as U.S. Marshals across the USA.
“This official will be indispensable to upholding the rule of law and was chosen for his devotion to enforcing the law, his professionalism, his experience and credentials and his dedication to pursuing equal justice for all,’’ explained officials at the White House.
Richardson emphasized that his time working at the university and working closely with Ross have been among the best times he has experienced to date in his storied career.
“Although I am proud of the new opportunity presented to me by President Biden, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with President Ross and getting to be involved with almost every aspect of ASU in its working to enhance its students’ education and advancing the university’s global reputation as a leader in higher education,” Richardson said.
He continued.
“Alabama State University is America’s oldest state-sponsored HBCU (historically Black colleges and universities) and is where the Civil Rights Movement was created just after Rosa Parks arrest,” Richardson said. “Alabama State is a school where history is made. I greatly appreciate the opportunity that both President Ross and Alabama State have given me — ASU has helped me grow!”