Michael Cox

Transparency and community policing Increasing the department's transparency with the public was a central focus of Cox during his tenure in Ann Arbor. involving allegations that Cox created a hostile work environment and that employees feared retaliation, as well as separate accusations of insubordination.

Cox admitted he had made some mistakes in communicating with others in the department. He cited his failure to adjust to the difference in the culture surrounding communication in the Boston Police Department (located in a large East Coast city) versus that of Ann Arbor (located in a smaller Midwestern city). He acknowledged that he needed to better his communication. While Cox had, as chief, sought to repair the department's relationship with the city council, His selection as the new police chief came after a seven month search process for a new chief, His leadership style has been characterized as "soft-spoken" but "assertive."

Cox has faced some criticism for often rejecting disciplinary recommendations made by the civilian review board.

Violence reduction In early 2023, the city government (under Mayor Wu) set a goal of reducing the city's annual homicide rate by 20% by 2026. Over the course of 2023, Boston experienced the fewest homicides it had seen in any year on record. 2023 also saw a new record low for gun violence rates in the city. local law enforcement hailed the year as one of the city's safest years on record. Murder rates in Boston have been characterized as "plummeting." The number of shooting fatalities was noted to have greatly decreased over the previous three years. By the end of 2024, the city had exceeded its objective of reaching a 20% reduction in annual homicides ahead of schedule. By 2024 and 2025, data indicated that Boston was safer than many similarly-sized cities in the United States. An article published by the Vera Institute of Justice in September 2024 found Boston is one of the safest major cities in the United States, noting

Personal life While a student at Moorehouse, Cox met Kimberly Nabauns, a student at Spelman College (an HBCU and women's college, also located in Atlanta). The two began a relationship and married. During their relationship, both began demanding jobs: Cox entered policing, and Nabauns began a career in medicine as an anesthesiologist at a hospital in Brockton, Massachusetts). Having visited Ann Arbor to watch Michael Jr.'s home games at the University of Michigan, Cox was acquainted with the city prior to becoming its chief of police. , Cox and his wife remained married.

In May 2025, Cox was the commencement speaker at the ceremony for graduates of Providence College's graduate and continuing education students.