Robert J. McGuire

Robert Joseph McGuire (born December 8, 1936) is an American attorney and business executive who served as New York City Police Commissioner from 1978 to 1983.

Early life McGuire was born on December 8, 1936, in The Bronx and grew up in Throggs Neck. McGuire attended Iona College on a basketball scholarship and earned his law degree from St. John's University School of Law. Upon his return to the US he joined the firm of Phillips, Nizer, Benjamin, Rosen, & Ballon and started a program in Harlem that provided legal representation for the poor. At the age of 41, he was the youngest NYPD commissioner since Theodore Roosevelt. McGuire left office on December 30, 1983. His six year stint as New York City’s Police Commissioner was the longest since Lewis Joseph Valentine's decade in office ended in 1945.

Business career On January 1, 1984, McGuire joined Pinkerton as chairman and chief executive officer. As CEO, McGuire worked to build up Pinkerton's investigative division, gain more government contracts, and acquire other businesses. However, under McGuire's leadership the company lost $11 million in sales. In 1988, Pinkerton was sold by its parent company American Brands, and McGuire was given a lucrative severance package to leave the company. In 1990, Kroll was hired by Covenant House’s board of directors to investigate its founder and president Bruce Ritter. The investigation, led by McGuire, found that Ritter had engaged in sexual and financial misconduct and faulted the board for not exercising proper oversight. In 1991, McGuire was named Kroll’s president and chief operating officer. He remained with Kroll until it was purchased by Equifax in 1997.

Other public sector work In 1990, McGuire was appointed to a 4-year term on the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board by mayor David Dinkins. In 1992 he was chosen to serve as a special master charged with breaking up Thomas Gambino’s Garment District trucking business. In 2002 he was named chairman of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's charter revision commission.

Personal life In 1972, McGuire married Joan Wroldsen. The McGuires own a 40 acre farm in Connecticut. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.