Four Charles County Sheriff’s Office commanders have completed one of the most established leadership programs in American law enforcement, graduating from Northwestern University Center for Public Safety’s School of Police Staff and Command (SPSC), the agency announced.
The graduates are Captain Louis C. Schmidt III, Lieutenant Paul G. Morgan III, Lieutenant Dorrell Savoy, and Sergeant Amber Hancock. SPSC is a 10-week program built for mid- and upper-level law enforcement supervisors, combining academic instruction with practical training in organizational behavior, strategic planning, resource allocation, and contemporary policing. Northwestern’s Center for Public Safety established the program in 1983, and it has since trained more than 21,000 law enforcement students nationally and internationally.
Capt. Schmidt, who commands the CCSO’s Support Services Division, was named Vice President of SPSC Class #632. Schmidt, a nearly three-decade veteran of the agency who has also served as Special Operations Division Commander, said the program’s national scope stood out. “Northwestern provided a national perspective for issues, given that instructors came from all over the country, and it was interesting to see where challenges and successes were similar and different,” he said. He added that the coursework reinforced the value of “academic rigor” in law enforcement work, saying good research, drafting, and revision “play an important role in getting law enforcement projects right the first time.”
Lt. Savoy, who serves in Patrol Operations, said the experience deepened his appreciation for the leadership, mentorship, and institutional knowledge senior officers bring to an agency. He also pointed to the value of building relationships with law enforcement agencies across the region, saying shared ideas and collaboration strengthen public safety work and make organizations more adaptable.
Lt. Morgan, who serves in the Patrol Division, said the program emphasized that leaders who care for their personnel see stronger performance agency-wide. He said SPSC also pushed him to think beyond short-term decisions toward longer-range planning.
Sgt. Hancock, assigned to the Custody and Security Division at the Charles County Detention Center, said the course taught her to weigh how decisions and policies shape an agency’s long-term direction, not just its immediate concerns. She said understanding what motivates employees and communicating clearly are essential leadership skills, particularly in a correctional setting. Hancock also served as a Class Co-Activities Director for SPSC Class #632.
Sheriff Troy D. Berry, who is serving his third term after first being elected in 2014 as the first African American sheriff in the agency’s history, praised the graduates. “Northwestern’s School of Police Staff and Command is one of the most respected leadership programs in the country, and we are proud of these commanders for completing such a rigorous course,” Berry said. “Their commitment to professional growth strengthens our agency and enhances the service we provide to our community.”
The Charles County Sheriff’s Office, established in 1658, is among the oldest law enforcement agencies in the United States.
