INDIANA — Governor Mike Braun has appointed Julie Q. Smith as the first Director of Indiana’s new Office of School Safety. The announcement was made on Tuesday, following Smith’s retirement from the Columbus Police Department after more than 20 years of service.
The new office was created as part of Governor Braun’s public safety agenda to centralize the state’s school safety efforts. It will absorb the functions of the Indiana Secured School Safety Board, which oversees millions of dollars in annual safety grants for Indiana schools.
A Career Dedicated to School Safety
Smith brings a wealth of experience to her new role. She spent nine years as a patrol officer before becoming one of the first two full-time school resource officers (SROs) for Bartholomew County Schools in 2014, working at Columbus East High School. Five years later, she was promoted to Sergeant and SRO Supervisor.
Her expertise extends beyond the local level, as she is a national instructor and regional director for the Midwest states for the National Association of School Resource Officers. She also serves as the president of the Indiana School Resource Officers Association.
“School safety isn’t just a career for me—it’s a passion, and it’s something that I hold dear to my heart,” Smith said in a statement. “Indiana’s Office of School Safety will be proactive, collaborative, and relentlessly focused on the well-being of every student.”
Governor Braun expressed confidence in Smith’s ability to lead the new office, stating, “Sergeant Julie Q. Smith is uniquely qualified and dedicated to this mission to strengthen our schools and help students thrive.”
