Jerome Rice

Jerome L. Rice is a long-time public servant who served over 22 years in the US Army before retiring with the rank of First Sergeant. He also served the New York City Department of Correction for 25 years before retiring as a Captain.

First Sergeant Rice is the past Commander of American Legion Post #1871. Currently he serves as branch president and life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in CO-OP City.  

In 2010, First Sergeant Rice was selected by the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice to conduct workshops for the Association of Caribbean Heads of Corrections and Prison Services located in Trinidad and Tobago. 

His many notable career highlights and awards include being elected to the Riverbay Board of Directors and the Alpha Phi Sigma Phi Nu Chapter of the Criminal Justice Honor Society.  First Sergeant Rice has served as president of the Monroe College Toastmasters Club and has received the Equality Charter School Service Award (2018), the AIM High Ambassador Mentorship Award (2017), the NAACP Freedom Fund Award for Community Service (2011), and the Claflin University Alumni Chapter Community Service Award (2010).  He is a 9/11 responder and survivor.

First Sergeant Rice Rice continues to be the voice for the voiceless by fighting for both civil and human rights. His commitment to uplifting communities is evident in his work throughout New York City where he educates both city and state elected officials as well as the surrounding communities on issues such as Miranda Rights, security risk groups (gang awareness), senior citizen safety, disaster awareness, racism, and voter education.

In 2008, he received a Master of Business Administration degree from Monroe College majoring in Business Management. First Sergeant Rice is currently a doctoral student at Walden University in the criminal justice program. Throughout his life, he has been a faithful servant for the Thessalonia Worship Center in the South Bronx.