"Professor Tom Constantine, the former director of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, is the person who will oversee changes to the Northern Ireland police force.
Mr Constantine, 61, is also the former chief of police for New York State.
His reputation for dealing with drug dealers in the city led to his name being given to an organisation dedicated to educating children about drugs and respect for the law, Constantine's Circus.
Writing on its website, the organisation's founder, Terry O'Neill, says of Prof Constantine: "He's my teacher. That makes him my biggest and strongest and best friend."
Policing career
Tom Constantine was born in 1938 Buffalo,New York, of Irish-American descent with family roots in County Clare.
His approach to policing may have originated in the mists of time - the Constantine's Circus website describes him as a descendant of Constantine O'Brien, a 12th century Irish warrior.
Mr Constantine's policing career began in 1960 with the Erie County Sheriff's Department."
7 Jun 2000 BBC News [includes a photo]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk/ ... 780857.stm
posted by Sharon Carberry
with family roots in Erie Co. NY
Tom Constantine, Clare descendant, Erie Co. NY to No. Ire.
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