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Indianapolis – Governor Mike Pence today named Rick Hite Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC), effective Monday, February 29. Hite fills the position formerly held by Jamal Smith, who announced in November 2015 that he would resign in January to lead Indianapolis Public Schools athletics.
“Rick Hite is a man of integrity and a dedicated public servant, and I am proud to announce that he will serve an integral part of my administration as Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission,” said Governor Pence. “Rick’s proven track record of upholding the law and building consensus will serve Hoosiers well, and I’m honored to welcome him as a member of my Cabinet.”
Hite most recently served as Chief of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), after he was appointed by Mayor Greg Ballard, and previously worked as Deputy Director of Public Safety. Before moving to Indianapolis from Baltimore, Maryland, Hite served 32 years with the Baltimore City Police Department. He held all ranks from Police Cadet to Lt. Colonel and worked in a variety of assignments from patrol, special operations, Joint Federal Task Force, Mayor’s Office, and Governor’s Office. He oversaw gang intervention, re-entry and community/witness relocation and intimidation activities. Hite is a native of Gary, Indiana.
Hite has served on the board of directors of the Department of Justice Advisory Committee, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Governors’ Security Association, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Family League of Baltimore and the Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute. Hite holds professional development certifications from the FBI National Executive Institute, the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, Yale University, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Maryland Crime Prevention Institute and Maryland State Police.
The ICRC enforces the Indiana civil rights laws and investigates complaints of discrimination and educates organizations, companies, landlords, associations, and individuals on their rights and responsibilities under Indiana Civil Rights Laws. As of July 2012, the state of Indiana’s five cultural commissions are now located within the Indiana Civil Rights Commission. These include the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Indiana Holiday Commission, the Indiana Commission for Hispanic/Latino Affairs, the Indiana Commission for Women, the Indiana Commission for the Social Status of Black Males, and the Indiana Native American/Indian Affairs Commission.
