WSU celebrates second graduating class of the DPD Leadership Academy
Leaders from the Detroit Police Department, Wayne State University and the City of Detroit came together on Friday, April 26, at the Mike Ilitch School of Business to celebrate the achievements of the second graduating class of the Detroit Police Department Leadership Academy.
Developed by faculty in Mike Ilitch School of Business, the Detroit Police Department and the City of Detroit, the DPD Leadership Academy is a unique program designed specifically for current law enforcement leaders and police officers seeking advanced responsibilities.
“It is our honor to offer this program, which will equip department leaders with the management tools to provide the people of Detroit with a public safety force that operates at peak performance,” said Mike Ilitch School of Business Dean Robert Forsythe.
Over the past eight months, 20 men and women from the Detroit Police Department completed six graduate courses specially designed to impart them with a deeper working knowledge of leadership and business disciplines, preparing them for future personal and professional growth.
“Education has been a staple principle and highly-valuable tool in the advancement of Detroit Police personnel,” said Detroit Police Department Chief James Craig. “Thanks to our partners at Wayne State and the City of Detroit, these students will gain a substantial understanding of contemporary business management, high-level financial leadership and specialized law enforcement communication”
In addition to earning a Graduate Certificate in Business from WSU, academy graduates have also earned roughly half the credits they need to earn an MBA from the Mike Ilitch School of Business.
The graduates of this class include:
- Deputy Chief Todd Bettison
- Commander Charles Mahone
- Commander Arnold Williams
- Captain Michael Chambers
- Captain Lashanna Potts
- Captain Aric Tosqui
- Lieutenant Laurie Carter
- Lieutenant James Domine
- Lieutenant Dawn Johnson
- Lieutenant Darwin K. Roche
- Lieutenant Sonia Russell
- Lieutenant William Sims
- Sergeant Marcellus Ball
- Sergeant Tony Cotton
- Sergeant Velma Hampton
- Sergeant Felicia Jewell
- Sergeant Errol King
- Sergeant Donna McCord
- Sergeant Shannon Rhinehart
- Sergeant Junetta Wynn
The third cohort of the academy will begin courses in September. DPD and WSU have stated a goal of training 80 officers by 2021.
