John Ingersoll

Johnathan (Jack) E. Ingersoll (October 31, 1929 – January 12, 2023) was an American police officer and federal law enforcement agent. He was the first chief of police in Charlotte, North Carolina, to use computers on the job. Ingersoll was the only director of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (BNDD), and resigned amid the Watergate scandal. The BNDD was merged into the Drug Enforcement Administration two days after he departed from the government.

Early life and education Ingersoll was born in Westwood, California, in 1929. When Ingersoll's father died in 1932, his mother moved the family to the San Francisco Bay Area, and Ingersoll was raised from that point in Berkeley, California. Ingersoll attended the University of California at Berkeley where he obtained a master's degree in criminology. Ingersoll was the first Chief of Police in Charlotte to use computers on the job, and ensured the installation of the first computers in the department. Ingersoll oversaw the construction of the new police headquarters, and the merger of City and County police records systems. City council member Tuttle motioned to make Ingersoll an honorary citizen of Charlotte for life, and the Council unanimously agreed.

Within five weeks of taking office, Ingersoll went to Europe to investigate the true sources of heroin in the United States. The Daily World newspaper wrote: "If Nixon isn't in the dope business, you figure it out."

Congressional confusion and allegations of poor performance Ingersoll's approach to narcotics enforcement was one of global intelligence gathering from all sources on organized criminal syndicates, to the point of confusion by members of Congress and the White House, who wanted numbers, arrests, and convictions. To Congress, Ambrose was performing, and Ingersoll wasn't.

Resignation from the Department of Justice Ambrose's departure revealed that he had been favored by the administration, and especially by H. R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman, to be the first DEA Administrator.

Career in IBM After quitting the Bureau, Ingersoll accepted the position as Director of Security for the IBM's International Business Unit and the IBM World Trade Subsidiary, where he worked for the next twenty years.

Retirement and later life After retiring from IBM, Ingersoll consulted in public and private sector security.

In 1994, Ingersoll and his wife moved to Asheville, North Carolina. Ingersoll joined the board of the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and became the President of UNC Asheville's College for Seniors.

In 2009, Ingersoll and his wife moved to the Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville, where he served on the board of directors and the Finance Committee.

Ingersoll died on January 12, 2023. He was survived by his wife, three children, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.