Teacher Spotlight: LSSU professor Herb Henderson helps guide future law enforcement officers
SAULT STE. MARIE — During his time at Lake Superior State University, college professor Herb Henderson has helped guide hundreds of students into law enforcement careers.
A Sault local, Henderson graduated from both Sault High and Lake Superior State University. He began working right away out of college, when he started working for the local police department as a crime scene tech, eventually working his way up to night shift commander. At the same time, he became an adjunct professor at LSSU.
For years, Henderson worked non-stop to build his careers and family life, rarely having any free time and grading papers in the hours between his classes. Now, Henderson teaches a wide variety of classes related to criminalistics and helps students earn their training certifications.
"I've got a wide breadth of academic education and then I have thousands of hours of instructor training," said Henderson.
Henderson would later go on to receive a master's degree in public administration from Northern Michigan University and a master's in philosophy of criminal justice from Walden University. He is also currently working towards his master's in cyber security through Eastern Michigan University and his PhD in public policy from Walden.
Right now, Henderson is in the process of developing a new program for LSSU students involving cybersecurity. Because of his experience teaching and training he is undergoing in cybersecurity, Henderson was chosen to lead the only program in the state that combines criminal justice with cybersecurity.
The program will focus on investigative skills and is meant to prepare students for a field which is expected to grow by more than 30 percent in the next few years, according to Henderson.
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Henderson left the police force after more than 25 years to focus on his classes, but he said he still misses the job.
"I still miss the job. When you've done the field law enforcement that long there's things you miss," he said. "There's a lot of camaraderie with your fellow officers and people you work with because you build that strong family relationship."
In recent years, Henderson has also started a high school law enforcement program. Since 2018, the program has taught dozens of students, and some of them later took Henderson's college courses and became police officers.
Through his students, Henderson is reminded of the impact he has had on local law enforcement training. He has even seen graduates of his own classes now recruiting newly graduating students who he has been working with since they were in high school.
While he no longer works as a police officer, Henderson said his schedule stays busy as a professor, student, husband and father. He emphasizes a strong work-life balance to all of his students.
"I have three rules for my students to succeed: Be safe, have a good family life and have a good career," said Henderson.
— Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Teacher Spotlight: LSSU professor Herb Henderson helps guide future law enforcement officers
