FAMU police chief retires amid hazing probes

Calvin Ross will retire May 1 after 11 years at Florida A&M University

April 03, 2012 08:30 AM

Doris Hicks, second vice president of the Florida A&M University National Alumni Association, is interviewed after a board of trustees conference call Monday Dec. 19, 2011, in Tallahassee, Fla. The trustees rejected a call by Florida Gov. Rick Scott that President James Ammons be suspended while the hazing death of a band member is investigated.

Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The police chief at Florida A&M University is retiring less than a week after reports surfaced that Tallahassee authorities didn’t receive timely information about an off-campus hazing incident from 2010.

The university announced Tuesday that Calvin Ross will retire May 1 after 11 years with the university and 40 years in law enforcement. The school said Ross asked to be put on leave immediately.

Assistant Police Chief John Earst will replace Ross on an interim basis.

Tallahassee police said last week that they were unable to file charges from an off-campus hazing incident in early 2010 because they didn’t receive a report from FAMU authorities who investigated that incident.

The historically black college has been in turmoil since the Nov. 20 death of drum major Robert Champion following a separate hazing ritual.

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