This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.
by Aaron Moselle for NewsWorks
In college, and for a brief time in the NFL, it was Chief Inspector Carl Holmes’ job to protect the quarterback from being flattened into the gridiron grass.
Since joining the Philadelphia Police Department, the former offensive lineman has helpled tackle street crime, spending most of his two-plus decades on the force in patrol and narcotics.
These days, Holmes’ safety duties are a bit different. He’s now the top cop for the cash-strapped Philadelphia School District, but his commitment to keeping the peace remains the same.
"To my core, safety is what I’ve done for the last 23 years," said Holmes, who is "on loan" from the Police Department.
The Roxborough resident quietly started his new gig as head of the district’s Office of School Safety in mid-October.
The appointment reportedly raised some eyebrows because the Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division has investigated Holmes twice.