In Memoriam
Louis (Lou) A. Mayo, Ph.D.
It was with deep sadness that we learned of the passing of Louis A, Mayo on May 11, 2013, at the age of 84. Dr. Mayo—or “Lou,” as he was known to many—led a remarkable life, and his career was distinguished by his unwavering devotion to public service, and specifically a commitment to the advancement of the policing profession. In the early stages of his career served as a special agent in the U.S. Secret Service, where he was eventually assigned to the Presidential Protection Unit for President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Lou was later an acting regional administrator for the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA), a preceding component to the Department of Justice’s current law enforcement grant-making agencies. He also served as a founding staff member of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the research arm of the Justice Department. Among his later passions in life was a dedication to improving minimum education levels for police officers by developing tailored higher education programs focusing on elements of police professionalism, leadership, ethics, community collaboration, and problem solving to meet those education goals.
Over the years the COPS Office has come to know Lou well, and we were greatly inspired by his commitment to the advancement of many policing, crime, and safety issues. While he was widely respected for his many contributions, we will also remember his tireless work and dedication to the policing profession.
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