Chief Block began his law enforcement career with the Village of Morrice and Perry Police Departments. He relocated to Midland in 1993 to begin a proud and rewarding career as a law enforcement officer with the Midland City Police Department.  He worked his way up the ranks and, after a nationwide search, was appointed as the chief of police on January 30th, 2012.  Chief Block served the department as a member of the Midland SWAT Team, holding positions of operator, sniper, and Team Leader.  In addition, he held roles as a field training officer, firearms instructor, tactical weapon instructor, chemical aerosol instructor, Glock, H&K, and Colt M16 armorer, and accident reconstructionist. He is now with Saginaw State University.

Chief Block received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from the University of Michigan in 1991, and his associate's degree in criminal justice from Delta College in 1995. He completed the Eastern Michigan University School of Police Staff and Command in 2001, received his Master of Arts in Leadership in Public Administration from Saginaw Valley State University in 2003, completed the Michigan Police Executive Development Seminar in 2006, and graduated from the FBI National Academy (Session #229) in 2007.  Cliff has been an active member of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP) since 2004: member of the Alarm Management Committee and former chair; and member of the Legislative Committee, MACP President 2017-2018. Chief Block also belongs to several other committees, boards, associations, and civic organizations.