Mildred Johnson ‘04, MSOL ‘06, PhD, professor of criminal justice, is a national leader in active bystander training through an organization called ABLE (Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement). The program, run by Georgetown University, provides police officers with the tools and authority to intervene in unethical situations, promoting officer wellness and protecting officers against retaliation. These training courses take place across the country in police stations, correctional facilities, and virtually. Johnson was invited to join the team as a national instructor in 2021, and has trained officers in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Colorado, Oklahoma, Seattle, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, Utah, Pittsburgh, and through multiple virtual trainings. As an instructor, Johnson also has the opportunity to update and strengthen the training curriculum.

For Johnson, this unique, national community is a way for officers to “step in and step up,” especially for officers who are concerned about a colleague’s state of mind. When asked why she became an ABLE instructor, Johnson cites the high rate of suicide amongst police officers. She describes the tendency of officers to hide their struggles, refusing to ask for help due to the nature of their outward-focused, problem-solving work. During her previous work as a patrol officer and police sergeant for the city of Pittsburgh, Johnson’s fellow officer committed suicide, and Johnson wonders if she could have intervened had she had the training then that she currently has now.

Before coming to Geneva, Johnson obtained a doctorate in strategic leadership as well as a master’s degree in observational studies and a certificate in advanced leadership studies. As the first professor to teach full-time in Geneva’s criminal justice major, Johnson’s nationwide network allows her to connect students to job opportunities and trainings just about anywhere in the country. Each semester, Johnson invites an officer to speak in person or virtually to her classes to bring real life experience from various locations to the classroom. This program allows Johnson to be on the forefront of bettering officers nationally, using those experiences and connections to better the education and opportunities for Geneva students.

Johnson’s eyes light up when describing the various callings of her students. She says, “I’m grateful that God has allowed me to speak into the lives of these students because we need Jesus in this criminal justice field.” Recognizing the vital importance of a Christian presence in the prevalent darkness of the field, Johnson says confidently, “Me, I have Christ." However, she is also keenly aware of the many officers who are trapped in darkness and fear. Ultimately, Johnson sees her professorial work as a key part of responding to this fear as she trains students and sends them into the world to be beacons of light in the darkness.