Dr. Max L. Bromley

On Tuesday, December 27, 2022, Dr. Max L. Bromley passed away. He was born on September 3, 1950, in Orlando, FL. to Max R. Bromley and Laura Elizabeth Jane Kennedy Bromley. Max grew up in Orlando, FL and attended Colonial High School before moving to Tallahassee, FL to attend Florida State University where he earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the FSU Department of Criminology. He was a member of the of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and was fraternity president during his senior year. He began his criminology career as an intern with the Florida State University Police Department.

Max joined the University of South Florida Police Department (USFPD) in 1974, under the direction of Chief Paul Uravich, as the Public Education and Information Officer and retired from USFPD as a Major and Assistant Chief of Police. After earning his Doctorate in Higher Education, Max enjoyed a second career as a Criminology Professor and the Director of USF’s Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration (MACJA) program. He was with the USF Department of Criminology for 47 years.

Max met his wife, Debbie in 1974 at USF and they were married on July 8, 1978. They have two wonderful children, Jeff Bromley (Brittany) and Melissa Marsh (Cameron) and a beautiful granddaughter, Blake Poppy. He was a proud Dad of everything his children accomplished. He always said that his children were his inspiration to be a better person. He is survived by one sister, Lauraine Johnson, who lives in New Mexico.

Max received many accolades and awards over the years. He was an author, professor, mentor and was considered a nationally recognized expert on Campus Law Enforcement. He has remained on the leading edge of campus policing, campus crime and crime prevention issues. He was so proud to have chaired the USF President’s Campus Security Task force following 9/11. He also assisted in the development of a survey used by the U.S. Department of Justice to conduct the first national study of campus law enforcement departments. He participated in the Florida governor’s task force for university campus safety, as well as the Florida attorney general’s committee on campus law enforcement crime prevention training.

Max made an impact on so many lives. He valued his family and friends and treasured his times in which he was young enough to participate in sporting events, confident enough to coach young basketball and baseball teams, wise enough to learn to enjoy being a spectator in sports and dance and singing events, and happy enough to value every day that he could do all of that.

Max was loved by his family and friends. He will be remembered as a kind, thoughtful, intelligent and fun person to be around. He will be missed in so many ways.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Dr. Max L. Bromley Memorial Fund with University of South Florida Athletic Department.