Former Madison Police Chief Noble Wray will replace Kaleem Caire as interim Urban League of Greater Madison President and CEO, according to a press release Friday.
“I love this community,” Wray said in the release. “I understand its challenges and am committed to doing anything I can to improve the quality of life for those who have the dream of success and happiness.”
Wray said in a September interview with The Daily Cardinal after his retirement as police chief that he was constantly thinking about the relationship between the community and police force.
“What you are all about as chief is understanding things at a more global perspective, creating an environment for people to be able to do that ... putting officers in the best position to succeed, putting the community in the best position so that we reduce crime, fear and disorder for our community,” Wray said in the September interview.
Wray said one of the most pressing unresolved issues the Madison community was facing when he retired as police chief was racial disparity in the criminal justice system.
The Urban League’s mission is to “ensure that African Americans and other community members are educated, employed and empowered to live well, advance professionally and contribute to the common good in the 21st Century,” according to the release.
ULGM Board Chairman Wade Harrison said in the release Wray has a “tremendous wealth of experience and understanding of Madison.”
“We are so honored to have Noble join our team and help us continue our important work in the community,” Harrison said in the release.
Caire announced his departure March 3. Wray said “many important accomplishments have been achieved under Kaleem's leadership, it will be difficult to fill his shoes.”
Wray will begin his new position March 19.
