Amy Drehmer brings more than 27 years of law enforcement experience and 18 years of dedicated experience working in school safety as a School Resource Officer. Throughout her career, she has focused on building safe, supportive school environments and developing strong relationships with students, staff, families, law enforcement, and community partners.

During her time with the Rochester Police Department, Amy served within Rochester Community Schools in multiple school settings, providing safety and security services, emergency response, crisis intervention, investigations, and staff training. She has extensive experience with Emergency Operations Plans, emergency preparedness, behavioral threat assessment, critical incident response, de-escalation, and school safety training.

Amy has also worked as a School Safety Consultant with SEC SHIELD, providing emergency response, de-escalation, and critical incident training to school districts and their staff.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Madonna University and has completed post-graduate coursework through Walsh College. Her professional training includes Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM), Stop the Bleed instruction, and CPR/First Aid instruction.

Amy’s commitment to school safety and service has been recognized through several honors, including the 2026 Oakland Community Health Network CIT First Responder of the Year, the 2025 Rochester Pinnacle Award for First Responder of the Year, and the 2025 Excellence in Education Award.

Amy is excited to begin her role as Director of Safety & Security and looks forward to continuing her commitment to protecting students and staff, strengthening school safety, and supporting the school communities she serves.

Before joining Clarkston Community Schools, Sarah built a distinguished career with the Michigan State Police, ultimately retiring as an Inspector in the role of the Chief DEI Officer. Her law enforcement roles in leadership spanned from criminal investigations, professional development, organizational leadership, and specialized public-safety initiatives. Her career included extensive work involving missing persons, unidentified human remains, forensic art, human trafficking, and civil rights investigations. She was instrumental in the development of the Michigan State Police Missing Persons Unit and became a recognized authority in the field of missing persons.

Sarah’s commitment to victims and their families extends beyond her law enforcement career. She is the founder and former president of Missing in Michigan, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting missing-person cases by bringing together families, law enforcement, media, and community resources. Her work has helped advance awareness, collaboration, and innovative approaches to finding missing individuals and providing answers to families.

Her leadership has been recognized at both the state and national levels. Among her honors is the International Association of Chiefs of Police 40 Under 40 Award, recognizing emerging leaders in law enforcement. She has also received two Michigan State Police Distinguished Service Awards, a Michigan Attorney General Beyond the Call of Duty Award, and multiple professional excellence recognitions from various law enforcement agencies.

Sarah’s professional experience is complemented by an extensive academic and executive- education background. She earned her undergraduate degree in Anthropology from Michigan State University and an MBA in Leadership from Cleary University. Her continuing executive education includes programs through Harvard University, where she completed her certificate in Public Leadership and a DEI certificate at Brown University.

This combination of advanced education and front-line experience gives Sarah a distinctive perspective on modern school safety. She understands that effective safety leadership extends well beyond physical security. It requires strategic planning, strong relationships, thoughtful policy, crisis preparedness, professional development, communication, and a deep understanding of organizational culture.

Jon Martin brings more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement and public safety to his role as Director of Safety and Security for East Lansing Public Schools. Prior to joining the district, he served as a Lieutenant with the Michigan State University Police and Public Safety Department, where he provided leadership for the Patrol Division.

Throughout his career, Mr. Martin has held numerous leadership and specialized assignments, including Patrol Lieutenant, Special Events Lieutenant, and Team Commander of the Ingham County Special Response Team (IRSRT). His extensive experience in crisis management, event planning, emergency response, and public safety operations provides a strong foundation for his work in protecting and supporting the East Lansing Public Schools community.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Martin has developed strong relationships throughout the greater East Lansing community. His longstanding partnerships with local law enforcement, fire departments, and other community organizations will be valuable as he works to strengthen collaboration and enhance safety across the district.

Mr. Martin holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Ferris State University and had attended numerous leadership and training courses over his law enforcement career. He is committed to creating safe, supportive learning environments for students, staff, and families through relationship building, proactive planning, collaboration, prevention, and preparedness.

Nicholas Kaechele is a Safety Manager with SEC Shield at Plainwell Community Schools, bringing more than 35 years of experience in law enforcement, school security, emergency management, and organizational safety. His career includes leadership roles with the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, federal court security, and school safety operations. He has extensive experience in critical incident response, threat assessment, emergency planning, and personnel leadership. Nicholas works closely with school administrators to support safe learning environments and develop proactive strategies that address the safety needs of students, staff, and visitors. He holds an Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice from Grand Rapids Community College and completed the School of Police Staff and Command program at Northwestern University.

Paul Crane serves as the Director of Safety, Security, and Student Support for Troy School District, providing leadership for districtwide safety, security, emergency preparedness, and student support initiatives.

A graduate of Saginaw Valley State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Paul was also a scholarship basketball player during his collegiate career. He subsequently served for 20 years with the Saginaw Police Department, holding leadership positions within patrol operations, including Patrol Officer, Patrol Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant/Watch Commander, and Deputy Chief of Police.

Following his law enforcement career, Paul spent ten years as the Director of Safety and Emergency Preparedness at Kettering University, where he led campus safety, emergency management, and security operations for the university community.

With more than 30 years of experience in public safety, emergency management, and organizational leadership, Paul brings a collaborative and solutions-focused approach to building safe, secure, and supportive learning environments through partnerships with students, staff, families, first responders, and community stakeholders.

Mark Buckberry brings over 33 years of distinguished law enforcement experience to his role as Director of Safety and Security for South Lyon Community Schools through SEC SHIELD. He retired as a Police Lieutenant from the Van Buren Township Police Department, where he developed extensive expertise in leadership, operations, and community safety.

Over the course of his career, Mark accumulated more than 21 years of supervisory and leadership experience. He served for 28 years on the Western Wayne County SWAT team, where he held key roles as an operator, Team Leader, and Team Commander. His background includes directing patrol operations, leading criminal investigations, and overseeing complex tactical responses.

Mark has advanced training and practical experience in critical incident management, use of force, de-escalation, and tactical operations. He is also a certified instructor in multiple disciplines, including firearms, active shooter response, and law enforcement tactics.

In addition to his field experience, Mark is committed to professional development and education. He serves as an adjunct instructor with Tactical Encounters Inc. and contributes to Schoolcraft College’s police academy and in service training programs.

His leadership training includes programs through FBI LEED and Northwestern University’s School of Staff and Command. Mark holds an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Schoolcraft College.

With a career defined by leadership, training, and operational excellence, Mark is dedicated to enhancing school safety and fostering secure learning environments for students, staff, and communities.

Jason Cox is a seasoned law enforcement professional with seven years of supervisory and leadership experience, specializing in critical incident management, crisis negotiations, and police training. Most recently managing security operations at a Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network facility, Scott has previously excelled as a Security Supervisor and Investigative Analyst. His notable achievements include earning the Medal of Exceptional Service and the Expert Firearms Award, reflecting his commitment to excellence. Scott’s advanced training encompasses a wide range of skills, from crisis intervention and tactical communications to leadership training with the FBI-LEED. His extensive background includes directing patrol operations, supervising crisis negotiation teams, and contributing to SWAT tactical operations, demonstrating his capability in both strategic planning and hands-on crisis resolution.

Thea Credle is a mission-driven safety and security leader with more than 15 years of experience designing inclusive, trauma-informed crisis management strategies for diverse organizations across education, healthcare, and public sectors. As SHIELD’s Director of Safety and Security for a national nonprofit with locations across the U.S., she brings deep expertise in holistic risk assessments—spanning digital, physical, and reputational domains—alongside a proven record in emergency preparedness and culturally responsive safety training.

Throughout her career, Thea has partnered with executives, community leaders, and government agencies to build secure, resilient environments where equity, trust, and care are centered. She has led crisis response efforts during active incidents, guided large-scale emergency management initiatives, and developed frameworks that ensure compliance while fostering compassion. Her approach prioritizes collaboration—bridging the work of HR, IT, legal, facilities, and law enforcement partners to create safety systems that reflect the diverse communities they serve.

At SHIELD, Thea provides strategic oversight and operational rigor to advance the organization’s mission of safeguarding communities nationwide. Her leadership is grounded in relational trust, equity-centered planning, and a commitment to preparing organizations for the full spectrum of modern safety challenges.

Thea holds a Master of Public Health from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

With over 25 years of distinguished service, Katie Diehl retired as a Police Captain from the Lansing Police Department, where she began her career in 1998. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University and held various roles including Special Operations Investigations, Internal Affairs, and Community Policing. Promoted to Captain in 2020, she oversaw the Staff Services and Patrol Divisions, managed community projects, training, and a team of over 100 officers. Katie also contributed to the G.R.E.A.T. program and holds an MBA in Business Administration and Leadership from Cleary University, along with advanced certifications from Michigan State University.

Pete Gerkin brings over 26 years of law enforcement experience to his role as Director of Safety & Security at Grand Rapids Christian Schools. A retired lieutenant from the Kent County (Michigan) Sheriff’s Office, Pete served in a variety of roles throughout his career, including over a decade in the Investigations Division and 12 years on the tactical team – six of which he led as team leader.

In his final assignment with the Sheriff’s Office, Pete led the Community Services Division, where he supervised the agency’s community engagement programs and managed a team of 16 school resource officers across 12 school districts. He worked closely with educational leaders to define the evolving role of SROs and to strengthen safety strategies that prioritize both physical security and positive student relationships.

Pete is an accredited instructor in de-escalation, implicit bias, and has led training programs in these areas for law enforcement and school personnel. His work has been recognized through numerous letters of commendation and department awards from both the Kent County Sheriff’s Office and the Grand Rapids Police Department.

In addition to his current work at Grand Rapids Christian Schools, Pete provides safety and security assessments and staff training for schools, childcare centers, and corporate environments. His trainings include workplace violence prevention, de-escalation techniques, critical incident response, crisis communication, and tabletop scenarios.

Pete is a member of the National Tactical Officers Association and the National Association of School Resource Officers. He is deeply committed to creating safe, supportive environments where students, staff, and communities can thrive.

Brian Harris is an innovative law enforcement leader with 25 years of distinguished service in building and guiding high-performing teams. Known for his adaptable leadership style, Brian excels in training development, personnel management, budgeting, and crisis management. He has successfully directed operations for entities with over 100 members and managed budgets exceeding $25 million. As Commander of the 5th Precinct at Detroit Police Department, he implemented a crime reduction strategy that decreased violent crime by 10%, while overseeing daily operations for a large team and a diverse community.  His extensive experience includes leading the Special Response Team, collaborating with federal agencies, and managing tactical operations for high-profile events. Brian holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration, a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, and an Associate’s in Logistics Management, underscoring his commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.

With over 17 years of diverse law enforcement experience, Justin brings a wealth of expertise to the field. He has a robust background that includes six years as a patrol officer, three years in code enforcement and animal control, and eight years as an auxiliary officer. Justin’s credentials are reinforced by advanced training in critical incident response, first responder tactical medical care, and forensic investigation, including certifications in active shooter response and child forensic interviewing. He holds an Associate’s degree in Law Enforcement from Kellogg Community College and a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Development from Spring Arbor University.

With more than 25 years of progressive leadership in law enforcement, Steve Kramer brings deep expertise in crisis response, investigations, training, and organizational leadership. Throughout his career, including his tenure as Chief of Police, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to prevention, preparedness, and community collaboration.

Steve has led critical incident response efforts, developed comprehensive safety programs, and trained countless professionals in areas such as de-escalation, active threat response, and officer readiness. His work emphasizes not only safety but also creating supportive and resilient environments for students, staff, and families.

At Howell Public Schools, Steve will play a key role in strengthening district wide safety strategies, enhancing crisis readiness, and building strong partnerships across the community.

Dan Munford brings more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement and public safety to his role as Director of Safety and Security for Waverly Community Schools. He previously served as a Captain with the Michigan State University Police and Public Safety Department, where he led patrol operations, community engagement initiatives, and public safety programs serving a large and diverse campus community.

Throughout his career, Mr. Munford has held leadership roles including Patrol Lieutenant, Patrol Sergeant, and Community Engagement Coordinator. He has extensive experience in crisis management, emergency response planning, staff training, and building strong partnerships with schools and community organizations. He has also led major initiatives in de-escalation training, school safety planning, traffic safety, and officer wellness.

Mr. Munford holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University and is a graduate of the MSU School of Criminal Justice Staff and Command program. He is committed to creating safe, supportive learning environments through proactive planning, collaboration, and a strong focus on prevention and preparedness.

With over 20 years of experience in federal law enforcement and critical incident management, Mike brings a powerful blend of public safety expertise and leadership to this vital role. He most recently served as a Senior Special Agent with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Professional Responsibility, where he led high-profile investigations and coordinated multi-agency emergency responses across the country.

Mike’s deep understanding of threat assessment, policy development, and crisis response makes him an invaluable addition to our district. He is a licensed attorney and nationally recognized leader in law enforcement and compliance-bringing clarity, collaboration, and strategic insight to every challenge.

An honorable and rewarding career that would enable him to see firsthand the positive impact of his work drew Troy Woodwyk to law enforcement. He would spend the next 27+ years with the Kent County (Michigan) Sheriff’s Office serving the community as a sergeant, lieutenant, captain and later as chief deputy of enforcement and corrections. Troy spent most of his career with the KCSO in patrol operations and was assigned positions within the detective bureau and traffic investigations. As a former SEC Senior Lead Consultant, Troy brought decades of law enforcement experience and passion for collaboration to our clients, helping them identify and bridge security gaps to ensure a safe environment for all stakeholders. Troy has assessed, trained and provided hundreds of consulting hours with school districts across the state of Michigan.  He’s a firm believer that every organization – big or small – needs to make safety and security a top priority. Troy is a graduate of the Grand Rapids Police Leadership Institute and Michigan State University Staff and Command School. He also is a member of the National Tactical Officers Association.

With over 28 years of experience in education and school safety, Dan Wright brings a powerful blend of leadership, insight, and dedication to his new role. Beginning his career as a teacher and coach, Dan spent 12 years building meaningful connections with students, followed by 13 years as a high school administrator known for his student-centered leadership and strategic problem-solving.

For the past three years, Dan has focused exclusively on school safety -collaborating with law enforcement, developing proactive safety protocols, and championing secure, supportive learning environments for all. His unique background allows him to effectively bridge the gap between education and safety, ensuring the well-being of both students and staff.

Dan holds a Master of Arts in Communications, a Master of Science in Literacy, and a School Administrator Certification – bringing both heart and expertise to this critical role.