Craig’s first job after graduating from Cass Technical High School was as a line worker at the Lynch Road Chrysler plant assembling automobiles, a job that sparked a love of automobiles that continues to this day. Although he enjoyed the work, Craig was drawn to a different calling in law enforcement. His father, a reserve police officer, encouraged his son to capitalize on the opportunity to make a difference in the community as a law enforcement officer, an opportunity he himself was denied due to racially discriminatory hiring practices. His first job in law enforcement was as a police officer for the Detroit Police Department, (DPD) where he stayed for four years until being laid off due to the budget cuts and the impending bankruptcy of the city of Detroit.

After leaving the DPD, Craig moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as an officer for the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), rising through the ranks, ultimately attaining the rank of Captain. During his tenure at the LAPD, Craig was responsible for overseeing 476 officers and was assigned to many of the most violent areas in Los Angeles, achieving tremendous reductions in crime through the implementation of innovative strategies and by building strong community partnerships.

Craig’s experience in Los Angeles helped shape his political identity. While president of an African American police association, he was exposed to the divisive rhetoric of Democratic politicians – rhetoric that continues to consume the Democratic party to this day. His conservative political identity became firmly established following his appointment as Chief of Police in the city of Portland, Maine. In that post, Craig was responsible for approving concealed-carry permits, fully subscribing to the notion that an armed, law-abiding populace is the best deterrent for crime. After two years in Portland, he was recruited by Cincinnati to be the Chief of Police for the Cincinnati Police Department, leading a department of more than 1500 sworn and civilian personnel.