2008 Honorees

Thomas Hendrickson

Thomas Hendrickson received his Master of Science degree from the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University in 1980. He received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin and Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Tom Hendrickson began his professional career as an Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Prosecution Unit (Organized Crime) with the Wisconsin Department of Justice. He later became the Lansing, Michigan Police Department’s first Police Legal Advisor and a Supervising Attorney and Assistant Director of the Legal Division for the International Association of Chiefs of Police in Washington, DC.

Tom Hendrickson became the first Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police in November of 1978 and continues to serve in that capacity. As Executive Director, Tom oversees two of the largest police training conferences in the State of Michigan. He worked with the Michigan Legislature to enact the Michigan Training Fund to provide revenue for police officer and prosecutor training throughout the State of Michigan and co-sponsored the Robert Trojanowicz Scholarship Golf Tournament.

As the first and continuing Executive Director of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, the association awarded Tom Hendrickson with the Presidential Citation Medal recognizing his leadership and work for the association.

Glenford Leonard

Glenford Leonard earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Criminal Justice in 1948 and his Juris Doctor from the Detroit College of Law in 1973.  Glenford Leonard began his career as a police officer for the Kalamazoo Police Department and later became the Director of Public Safety in Escanaba and Oak Park Michigan. As the Director of Public Safety at Oak Park, he taught new recruits the principles of professionalism, thoroughness, honesty and integrity, all of which he practiced every day. His students as well as the community held the upmost respect for Glen and his tireless dedication to changing the way emergency services are provided as well as by bringing communities together to provide services jointly.

Glenford Leonard was a pioneer in the development of consolidating police and fire services into departments of public safety. As the Director of Public Safety for the City of Oak Park, his public safety initiative served as a blueprint for other Michigan jurisdictions and became a National and International model for the delivery of community emergency services.

Glenford Leonard was a life member of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, and served as President of the Association from 1967-1968. He was also the first recipient of the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Presidential Citation Medal.

Doreen Olko

Doreen Olko graduated from the School of Criminal Justice with a Bachelor of Science in 1974 and earned a Masters Degree of Liberal Studies from Eastern Michigan University in 1993.

Doreen Olko has been a police officer for 35 years beginning her career as the first woman patrol officer for the Ingham County Sheriffs Department. After leaving the Ingham County Sheriff’ Department she joined the Meridian Township Police Department where she earned the ranks of Captain/Lieutenant and Commander of the Staff Services Division. Doreen is currently the Chief of Police for the Auburn Hills Police Department where she is one of just eight female Chiefs in the State of Michigan and the first female Chief appointed by a Michigan Governor to serve as a Commissioner on the Michigan Commission of Law Enforcement Standards.

Doreen Olko serves as a member of the School of Criminal Justice Alumni Association and Staff and Command Advisory Boards. She also serves on the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Board of Directors and Chairs the Traffic Safety Committee.

Doreen Olko has been the recipient of the Distinguished Leadership Award in 2004 from Oakland County and the Community Service Award from the Pontiac Youth Assistance and Greater Pontiac Community Coalition in 2001.

Michael Oltersdorf

Michael Oltersdorf earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University in 1973. After graduation, Michael started his law enforcement career in the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Dept. where he served admirably and with distinction. Michael later moved to Leelanau County, Michigan, where he was elected Sheriff in 1991, and is still serving the people in that capacity.   As Sheriff, he demonstrates the kind of unique leadership qualities that encourage promotion of change. As part of this changing enforcement environment, he was the first to assist in the development of the Northern Michigan Community Policing Consortium with the School of Criminal Justice. Today the Consortium has 13 police partners in the Grand Traverse area that work together initiating community-policing practices.

Michael Oltersdorf is truly a leader within the law enforcement community across the State of Michigan. He serves as a member of the School of Criminal Justice Alumni Association, Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice and the Michigan Committee on Domestic Violence Model Policy. Furthermore, he has brought senior citizens and law enforcement together to address their community issues and special needs through an initiative called TRIAD.

In 2004, Michael Oltersdorf was the recipient of the School of Criminal Justice Alumni Service Award for his dedication and work for the School.

Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson enlisted in the Michigan Army National Guard in 1966 and graduated from the Michigan Military Academy (Class 12) in 1969 as a Second Lieutenant, Transportation Corps. As a Commissioned Officer, Mike held various positions from platoon leader in the Military Police Corps to State Safety Officer. During his service to his country and community, Mike earned a Bachelors of Science Degree from the School of Criminal Justice in 1978 and a Masters of Arts in Education in 1984 at Michigan State University.

Michael Thompson’s impressive career has taken him into many facets of law enforcement and security. He served as a platoon leader in the Military Police Corps and as a police officer for the Lansing Police Department including duty as a helicopter pilot, juvenile investigator and road patrol officer. Michael has also been a District Court Probation Officer, a University Public Safety Officer, and a security supervisor. He is a designated Certified Protection Professional (CPP) by the American Society for Industrial Security and is the President and CEO of Joseph A. Young and Associates, Investigations and Security Services. Michael is an Adjunct Faculty member at both the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University and Lansing Community College and has served his country for over 31 years in the Michigan Army National Guard and the United States Army Reserve.

Michael Thompson is a member of the School of Criminal Justice Alumni Association, Michigan Safe Schools Initiative, Past-Member of the Robert Trojanowicz Scholarship Golf Tournament committee, Past-President of Kiwanis Club of Mason and Past-President of the National Guard Association.

Michael Thompson is the recipient of the Federal Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation and Achievement Medal, Michigan Distinguished Service Medal, Michigan Meritorious Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and Reserve Components Achievement Medal.

Clifford Van Meter

Clifford Van Meter graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Security Administration from the School of Police Administration, at Michigan State University. He received a Master of Arts in History from Western Illinois University, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Southern Illinois University.
Clifford Van Meter had a distinguished career of more than 40 years in criminal justice education, training, security, and law enforcement. He concluded his professional endeavors as a professor of criminal justice at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. During his career, Dr. Van Meter was also an author and researcher, as well as consultant on criminal justice and security issues for many years. He served on active duty as a commanding officer of an Army military police unit; he was also a reserve officer in the U.S. Air Force.

Formerly, he was a professor and the Director of the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois for 16 years. While at the University of Illinois, he initiated an international police officer exchange program, inspired by a sabbatical study program at New Scotland Yard, the British Police College. Dr. Van Meter established at Western Illinois University the first Bachelor of Science Degree program in Law Enforcement Administration. He also served as the first Chairman of the Law Enforcement Administration Department as well as Director of Safety and Security at Western Illinois University; and Assistant Director of Training for the St. Louis, Missouri, Metropolitan Police Department.

In the mid-1970s, Clifford Van Meter served as Executive Director of the National Private Security Task Force on Standards and Goals, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice. He co-authored The Hallcrest Report II: Private Security Trends 1970-2000. Additionally, he is one of the three authors of Principles of Security and had authored other texts and journal articles. Dr. Clifford Van Meter was a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, among other professional affiliations.