Western has a new “chief doctor” on staff, or at least a new “chief Ph.D.” Thomas C. Johnson, chief of WCU’s police department, joined a small group of police executives who hold doctoral degrees recently when he was awarded a doctorate in instructional systems and work force development from Mississippi State University.

“It is a huge accomplishment,” said Don Fisher, chief of police in Laurel Park and immediate past president of the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police. Fisher said it is relatively common to hear of police chiefs who have earned their master’s degrees, but rare to hear of chiefs who earned their doctorates.

“It took longer that I thought to finish the degree,” said Johnson (pictured), who started working on his doctorate in 1999. “Changes in the degree program, moving from Mississippi to North Carolina, taking on the challenges of my new job here at WCU and a serious motorcycle accident put me behind.”

The achievement, though, fulfilled a more than 20-year-old dream.

“Before moving into law enforcement on college campuses in 1986, I worked for a police chief named Alfred J. Winfield who was very progressive and education-oriented,” said Johnson. “He was a true friend and mentor, and after he earned his doctorate, it was in the back of my mind that I wanted to, also.”

As part of Johnson’s dissertation, titled “Effect of Distance Learning Technology as a Training Delivery System for Rural and Small Law Enforcement Agencies,” he developed several online training courses. The courses used a variety of tools such as video accompanied by workbooks for students to complete as they watched.

“I saw exploring this topic as a way of giving back to the profession,” said Johnson. “FBI statistics show more than half of the nation’s local police departments employ fewer than 10 sworn officers. In many cases, smaller agencies are isolated from training facilities and face budget challenges for training, and effective distance education could really make a difference to them.”

Johnson joined Western as police chief in July 2005 after serving in the same position with Mississippi State. He earned an associate’s degree in law enforcement from Pensacola Junior College, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Troy State University and a master’s degree in psychology from the University of West Florida.

Though Johnson now has an additional credential that could help him land a position teaching at the university level – a move he has seen fellow officers make over the years after completing their doctorates – he says the job he wants is the one he has right now.

“When you look at the leaders in our country in industry or politics, the common denominator is higher education,” said Johnson. “I believe in what colleges and universities do, and what we do in the university police department is critical to creating a safe environment in which to obtain an education.”

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Last modified: Monday, Feb. 11, 2008