With more than 26 years of law enforcement experience and 24 years serving Baltimore County Public Schools, Eric Knox brings expertise in school safety that has been tested during real world critical incidents. A recently retired veteran Sergeant of the Baltimore County Police Department, serving in roles as a patrol officer, officer with the Community Action Team, School Resource Officer, Robbery Squad Corporal in 2014. Special Victims Unit Sergeant, Patrol Sergeant, and Safe School Asst. Facilitator. He is lifelong resident of Baltimore and committed to developing skills necessary to operate as an effective leader both in the community and within the realm of School Safety.

In his current role as Executive Director of School Safety, he develops, implements, and evaluates school and office safety programs and activities. Develops, maintains, and implements emergency preparedness plans. Directs responses to emergency incidents in coordination with members of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). Develops, implements and maintains the school systems (Systemwide Emergency Operations Plan). Coordinates the interagency emergency management operation team. Coordinates student and employee badge identification system. Serves as a liaison to federal, state, and local law enforcement and emergency response agencies. Develops rules, and procedures governing safety and security matters. Coordinates with Baltimore County Police aspects of the SRO program, security, investigations, and procedures that impact schools and offices. Inspects schools and facilities to assess conditions and develop improvements in safety for employees, students, the public, and property. Identifies and addresses potential hazards to students, employees and the public.

Provides advice, consultation, and guidance regarding building security matters such as appropriate lighting and signage, security and surveillance systems, and student, employee and visitor identification systems. Prepares and presents information and professional development to school, central office, and executive staff and the public related to safety issues. Responds to inquiries, communications, and correspondence regarding school and office safety. Responds to inquiries from school administrators.

Directs and conducts internal investigations of incidents. Coordinates the compilation, analysis, and completion of reports. Reviews reports of investigations and recommends follow-up actions as appropriate.

As a school safety expert/consultant he currently supports school safety preparedness talks nationally. He serves on the Baltimore County Executive's Child Protection Panel. A member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 4, National Association of School Resource Officer's, and titled trainer for the American Kennel Club.

He currently holds his Associates of Arts and Science from the Community College of Baltimore County and Bachelor's of Arts from Morgan State University.

He is a current commercial pilot with the Federal Aviation Administration and enjoys training dogs, building classic cars, rehabbing commercial truck tractors, and everything school safety.

With 24 years of dedicated service to Baltimore County Public Schools, Laura Marvin‑Basta brings a wealth of classroom, leadership, and community experience to her role supporting school safety across the district. Her work is grounded in a deep understanding of school communities and a passion for ensuring that every child and every staff member feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.

Throughout her BCPS career, Laura has served in a wide range of roles, including special area teacher, resource teacher, special education teacher, classroom teacher, community school facilitator, and Assistant Principal. This broad experience gives her a unique and invaluable perspective when working with school leaders and families on safety concerns.

Laura draws on her years in the classroom and school leadership to help administrators navigate safety challenges with empathy, clarity, and practicality. Her firsthand knowledge of school operations allows her to approach each situation through an educator’s lens—ensuring that safety practices support both learning and well‑being.

Her commitment to students, families, and staff continues to shape her work every day as she helps strengthen safe, nurturing environments across BCPS.

Since joining Team BCPS in 2016, Dr. Ford has brought a powerful blend of experience, leadership, and community pride to his work supporting safe, positive school environments. His career reflects a lifelong commitment to improving outcomes for students and strengthening the systems that serve them.

Before returning to BCPS, Dr. Ford served as the Behavior and School Safety Specialist for School Climate and Inter-Agency Collaboration at the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). In that role, he helped guide statewide school climate initiatives and supported collaboration across agencies to improve student safety and well‑being.

Prior to MSDE, he worked as a Technical Assistance and Subject Matter Expert at Johns Hopkins University, where he provided leadership on major federal initiatives through the U.S. Departments of Education, Labor, and Justice. His projects focused on persistently dangerous schools, prisoner reentry programs, and broader strategies for improving safety and behavior outcomes in complex educational settings.

In addition to his work with BCPS, Dr. Ford continues to apply his expertise as an instructor with Masada Tactical LLC, where he trains MedStar emergency staff in de-escalation and self-defense techniques.

A proud graduate of Hebbville Elementary, Woodlawn Middle, and Milford Mill High School, Dr. Ford brings deep personal pride and purpose to his role—serving the very school system that helped shape his career.

Dr. Ford earned a bachelor’s degree in Juvenile Justice from the University of Baltimore, a master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Coppin State University, and a doctorate in Urban Education and Leadership from Morgan State University.

With more than 30 years of dedicated service in law enforcement and school safety, Donald Bridges brings unmatched expertise and heart to his role as Safety Manager for Baltimore County Public Schools. A retired Baltimore County Police Department professional, he has built his career around protecting students, supporting educators, and strengthening school communities.

In his current role, he oversees safety operations, emergency preparedness, and crisis response across the West Zone. He partners closely with principals, school teams, and law enforcement to ensure every school is equipped with comprehensive emergency plans, effective drills, reunification procedures, and consistent implementation of the Standard Response Protocol (SRP). He also leads and supports safety assistants and helps schools review and respond to bullying, harassment, and intimidation data.

Before joining BCPS, he served 30 years with the Baltimore County Police Department, working in patrol, community policing, investigations, and as a School Resource Officer. His background includes conducting threat assessments, leading safety investigations, and graduating from the prestigious FBI Hostage Negotiators School.

A nationally recognized leader in the field, he has served as President of the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) and is the founding President of the Maryland Association of School Resource Officers (MASRO). He is also a NASRO-certified instructor and a sought-after keynote speaker and trainer on school safety, emergency preparedness, crisis management, and threat assessment.

Guiding Philosophy:
Every child deserves a champion.

With more than 23 years of experience in education, Alice Curtis brings exceptional expertise and a deeply student‑centered approach to her role as School Safety Manager. She provides system‑level leadership in school safety, threat assessment, and violence prevention—work grounded in both her clinical background and her extensive real‑world experience supporting students and school communities.

Alice spent nearly two decades as a school counselor and is both a state‑licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a Nationally Board‑Certified Counselor (NCC). Her advanced training includes specialized work in threat assessment and mass violence prevention, equipping her to support schools with the most complex safety concerns.

Her background also includes significant experience in Bullying, Harassment, and Intimidation (BHI) prevention, as well as human trafficking intervention, where she has supported schools in identifying warning signs and coordinating essential supports for students and families.

As a former Pupil Personnel Worker, Alice managed intricate casework involving reportable offenses and student reentry from detention, guiding schools through sensitive processes with compassion and clarity. She also served as a leader on a traumatic loss team, helping coordinate responses to critical incidents and supporting community stability, resilience, and recovery.

Alice is deeply committed to partnering with school staff—working collaboratively to build safe, supportive, and resilient school communities where every student has the opportunity to thrive.

With more than 30 years of progressive leadership experience across transportation, emergency services, and school safety, Jim Mitcherling brings a deep operational and strategic skill set to his role as Manager of School Safety for the Central Zone. His career reflects a commitment to excellence, adaptability, and the continuous pursuit of safer, stronger school communities.

Jim’s professional journey began in Emergency Medical Services, where he developed a foundation in crisis response, decision‑making under pressure, and community service. His work later expanded into pupil transportation leadership, and ultimately into comprehensive school safety and security operations—giving him a uniquely broad perspective on systems that protect students, staff, and visitors.

Across roles in both the public and private sectors—including Director, Manager, and Supervisor positions—Jim has gained extensive experience in human resources, risk management, legal and compliance matters, finance, labor relations, logistics, fleet and facilities management, and long‑term strategic planning. He has successfully guided teams through complex organizational changes, including corporate mergers and acquisitions, strengthening his ability to manage operations during periods of transition.

Before joining the Office of School Safety, Jim served BCPS as Director of Transportation and Manager of Emergency Services, building a legacy of strong program design, effective communication, and collaborative problem‑solving at all organizational levels. In his current role, he continues to support schools with a focus on safety, preparedness, and systems that ensure the well‑being of every member of the BCPS community.

Jim holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from Loyola College’s Sellinger School of Business, a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from New England College, and formal certification as an Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic. A lifelong learner, he remains committed to continuous professional growth in service of student and community safety.

Outside of work, Jim enjoys golf, diving, and antique cars—interests that reflect his appreciation for precision, challenge, and craftsmanship.