In his 42-year career, Al Nyman has earned many accolades as a Marine, Grossmont College police chief, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department lieutenant, campus leader, and professor of criminal justice, but earning the Medgar Wiley Evers Award for his work in the region is among his most cherished.

“Earning the Carlsbad Police Department Volunteer of the Year was a very great honor, but this has to be at the top of the list,” said Nyman, who was honored Saturday, October 13, 2018, by the North County chapter of the NAACP.

Inspired by the service of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Nyman has dedicated his life to helping those less fortunate, regardless of color, focusing his talent and experience on improving the lives of young people.

As a law enforcement professional, Nyman helped pioneer a juvenile justice program 30 years ago in Carlsbad that worked with the courts to direct youth offenders toward social services rather than jail. The program not only put young people on the right track but also reduced recidivism.

As a professor at MiraCosta College, Nyman has inspired students to pursue careers in criminal justice and to be productive members of the community.

“MiraCosta College has been a big part of my life,” Nyman said. “MiraCosta College has a platform for helping students of all backgrounds steer toward their careers, whether in criminal justice or in another career path.”

A native of Brooklyn, NY, Nyman spent two years in the Marine Corps before joining the Grossmont College Police Department, working his way up to chief at that East County campus. He spent the next three decades with the San Diego County Marshals Office and San Diego County Sheriff's Department before retiring several years ago as a watch commander at the Vista jail. While serving as a law enforcement officer, Nyman simultaneously worked as a professor at MiraCosta College and was instrumental in helping to build the MiraCosta College Criminal Justice Program. There, he became a campus leader, helping to found the MiraCosta College Associate Faculty Union, where he still serves as vice president.

“Al Nyman has not only been a mentor to our students and leader among our MiraCosta College faculty, he has been an outstanding leader in our region and in the law enforcement community. Al is most deserving of this prestigious award and has made our MiraCosta family proud,” said Dr. Diane Dieckmeyer, vice president of instruction, MiraCosta College.