SFU PhD grad poised to advise US jurisdictions on civilian police oversight

Richard Rosenthal volunteering with the Mission Fire Department. 2021 is a year of firsts for BC's former chief civilian director of the Independent Investigations Office Richard Rosenthal he's earned his PhD in criminology, became certified as a fire truck operator, gotten engaged, and begun his new consulting career to help establish civilian oversight offices in the U.S. Undertaking firsts isn't unusual for Rosenthal. He started his career at the youngest prosecutor in Los Angeles at the age of 23, earning his JD (Juris Doctor degree) to practice law from the University of California Berkeley in 1986. He was the first director of Portland's Independent Police Review Division, served as the first police monitor for the City and County of Denver and was selected to become the first chief civilian director of the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) of British Columbia. After his wife became ill and died in 2015, Rosenthal took some time to reflect on what he wanted in his life. Knowing that his own father got his PhD at the age of 50, Rosenthal realized that it wasn't too late for him to pursue a PhD of his own. Leaving his position with the IIO a few months early to pursue a PhD in SFU's criminology program, Rosenthal knew that the transition back to being a student might be a bit tricky.