A 2010 graduate of Ferris State University’s Master of Criminal Justice Police Administration
joined with Michigan State Police Director Kriste Kibbey Etue and nine other initial
appointees on Thursday, June 21, as the School Safety Task Force held its organizational
meeting at the MSP headquarters in Dimondale, outside Lansing.
Larry Johnson, who is the chief of staff and executive director of public safety and school security for the Grand Rapids Public Schools, was named to the task force on behalf of school administrators by Gov. Rick Snyder. Johnson said skills learned at the Ferris-Grand Rapids campus will be an asset in his effort to collaborate with his peers on this special panel.
“We are likely to meet a couple of times each month since our charge is to submit a final report to the governor and state legislature no later than Nov. 30,” Johnson said. “I believe this will be a chance to review critical data, which is an important consideration. I am also planning to listen carefully to what the other task force members have to say, as there is a rather diverse group of around 20 people who have been asked to advise the governor in this regard.”
The executive order that created the force sought “structural and policy recommendations for planning and assessment of school infrastructure and safety policies.” Their duties also include analysis “of top-performing states, to determine best practices for law enforcement and preventative policies.”
“We have a significant opportunity to shape policy, practices and procedures, so that there is a real benefit for children across the state,” Johnson said. “It is a critical charge, and I look forward to working with the task force as we take up this difficult task.”
PHOTO CAPTION: Grand Rapids Public Schools chief of staff and executive director of
public safety and school security Larry Johnson has begun service with the School
Safety Task Force, as appointed by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. Johnson, the appointee
representing school administrators, was a 2010 graduate of Ferris State University’s
Master of Criminal Justice Police Administration, completing his studies at the Ferris-Grand
Rapids campus.