EAST LANSING, Mich. – East Lansing Police Chief Larry Sparkes has announced that Det. Nicole Mitchell will be serving as the new school resource officer at East Lansing High School (ELHS) beginning next week.
Det. Mitchell has served with the East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) for six years. She is a graduate of Lake Superior State University and, prior to attending college, she participated in ELPD’s Police Explorer Post as a high school student.
In her new role, Det. Mitchell will spend the majority of her time serving as a liaison between ELPD and ELHS and will be onsite at the high school to ensure safety and security. As a part of the ELPD Detective Bureau, Det. Mitchell will also be responsible for all criminal investigations involving juveniles and will be trained to serve as a juvenile forensic interviewer for the department.
“We have the utmost confidence in Det. Mitchell and know she will do a tremendous job in this important, new role,” said East Lansing Police Chief Larry Sparkes. “This position allows us to continue to maintain a strong partnership with East Lansing High School and ensure that the students attending school there are in a safe and secure environment.”
Det. Mitchell will be filling the shoes of Det. Steve Whelan, who has served as ELPD’s school resource officer for the past 11 years. Det. Whelan will continue to serve the East Lansing community as an officer with the ELPD Patrol Division. He will be transferring to that division this September.
“We are extremely thankful for and will greatly miss Det. Whelan’s experience and dedication to our school community as our school resource officer,” said East Lansing Public Schools (ELPS) Superintendent Dori Leyko. “Our team is excited to begin our work with Det. Mitchell and believe that she will build positive relationships with our students and staff. Her passion for working with young people makes her a great fit for this position. We are thankful for this collaboration between ELPS and ELPD.”