Sheriff Troy D. Berry is pleased to announce the graduation of Charles County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Jeffrey Wood (Shift Commander, Patrol Operations), Sergeant Jonathan Burroughs (Supervisor, Traffic Operations), Sergeant Scott Grove (Supervisor, Domestic Violence Unit), and Sergeant Caroline Baker (Supervisor, Patrol Operations) from the Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command, Session 438.
The 10-week course is designed to prepare top and mid-level law enforcement managers and supervisors for senior agency positions. “I am extremely proud of the officers who dedicated themselves to enhancing their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Certainly, the valuable lessons they learned will contribute to the work they do here at the agency and at large in our communities,” said Sheriff Berry. Students from Southern Maryland resided at the facility for the entirety of the school and earned 16 college credits for completing the course.
The School of Police Staff and Command covers six broad areas of study:
- Management and Management Theory
- Organizational Behavior
- Human Resources for Law Enforcement
- Budgeting
- Staffing Allocation
- Personnel Deployment
At the graduation ceremony, Mr. Stephen T. Moyer, Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services for the State of Maryland, delivered the keynote address and Sergeant Burroughs, who was selected Class President, delivered remarks to more than 200 attendees. “We all truly valued what we learned and in my position as a supervisor, I plan to pass on important information to my co-workers to better serve our county. The experience, overall, was excellent and opened my eyes to new ways of thinking and enhancing policing,” said Sergeant Burroughs.
In addition to taking courses, each class is asked to participate in the University’s Legacy Project in which the class picks a local non-profit organization to promote and raise funds. The idea is to demonstrate leadership and community involvement through volunteerism. This class chose the Nathan Chris Baker Foundation, named after a 5-year-old Sykesville child who died in a swimming accident. The Foundation raises money to help fund a variety of things and provides financial, physical, and emotional support to individuals, families, and communities in need.
“Our class raised nearly $10,000 for the Foundation in the short time we were here,” said Sergeant Burroughs. “We wanted to be a part of this Foundation for many reasons. The family suffered a terrible loss, and their work to ensure positive things will happen to people facing difficulties was inspiring to us.”
The Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety School of Police Staff and Command has graduated more than 10,000 officers both nationally and internationally since its first session in 1983.