Art Baylor, Montgomery Alabama First Black Police Chief

On November 29, 2004, the Montgomery Police Department began a new era when Montgomery’s Mayor Bobby Bright appointed a new police chief—Art Baylor.

Chief Baylor came to this position with the needed experience to lead the department. Baylor has served in the Montgomery Police Department as an officer, investigator, sergeant, lieutenant, captain and major. Leaving the department as police major, Baylor remained in law enforcement serving as a deputy marshal with the Unified Justice Systems of Alabama until he was appointed Chief of the Montgomery Police Department.

Art Baylor was born in Jefferson County, but grew up in Montgomery, where he graduated from Lanier High School. He then went on to Troy State where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice. Baylor is a graduate of the Montgomery Police Academy and the FBI National Academy from the University of Virginia. With the increasing size of Montgomery, the number of crimes also increase, but Chief Baylor is committed to keeping our citizens safe.

I worked in the same office with Denise, Chief Baylor’s wife. She is in a federal government civilian position equivalent to Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel and Commander. As a very successful woman, she is sincerely humble, and it was a pleasurable experience working with her and many other successful Black women in Montgomery; two were bridesmaids in our wedding. You would not know their success story unless you personally knew them. #theystayhumble. Our ancestors would be proud.