Age: 45
Personal: Married to Ronda Fowlkes-Gross; one son, Greg, age 16.

A resident of Pontiac, "Val" was born in Pontiac in 1961.  He is the eldest of six children.  After graduating from Pontiac Central High School in 1979, Chief Gross attended Northern Michigan University.  After working as a volunteer with the Pontiac Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) and public school athletic programs, "Coach" Gross was hired as a police cadet on May 14, 1982.

Sworn in as a Pontiac Police Officer on June 26, 1983, Chief Gross rose rapidly through the ranks with each position providing the experience and formal training as the foundation for his present position.  Initial responsibilities within the department included assignment to road patrol, narcotics enforcement with a stint with the Oakland County NET and as Director of P.A.L.  First line supervisory experience was gained with assignments within uniform patrol and detective sections and as executive sergeant for the Chief of Police. Command level assignments included Officer-In-Charge, Narcotics Enforcement Section, special assignment to the department's newly established Hometown Security Division and as Commanding Officer of the Administrative Services Division, Investigative Services Division and the Special Operations Division. 

On March 16, 2006, this variety of experience and responsibilities and leadership abilities earned Chief Gross' confirmation of his Mayoral appointment as the Pontiac Police Department's Chief of Police.