Mark Kissel

Mark Kissel is third generation law enforcement. He began his law enforcement career in 1968 as a police dispatcher with the Eau Gallie (FL) Police Department while in high school and college. He brings both experience and academic knowledge to his presentations and the content of this book. As an educator, he holds a bachelor's degree in criminology from Florida State University and a master's degree in public and urban affairs from Georgia State University.

Following graduation from Florida State University, he was employed with the Gwinnett County (GA) Police Department and held a variety of positions including Director of Training, Precinct Commander, and Assistant Chief - Uniform Division. He oversaw five precincts, aviation, canine, crime prevention, and traffic enforcement.

In 1998, as a member of the United Nations International Police Task Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina, he served as a human rights investigator and later as station commander in the Tuzla Region Canton. While deployed, he developed surveys to solicit community input on local policing efforts and for police officer input on ways to improve policing with the focus on management, supervision, equipment, and community involvement.

Upon return to the United States, he was appointed Chief of Police for the Cherokee County School District (GA) in 1999 and served 20 years until his retirement in 2019. His demonstrated leadership and experience in public safety, and K-12 education has provided him with significant insight for working with school administrators, students, staff and parents to ensure a safe and secure environment for teaching and learning. This experience provides a unique perspective for delivery of training programs in Crisis Management, Emergency Planning, K-12 Safety and Security, including Student/Staff Reunification.

Chief Kissel was instrumental in establishing the Georgia Association of Secondary School Law Enforcement Executives in 2005 and is a life-member of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. He is also recognized as a senior instructor with the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council and has taught a variety of undergraduate classes at Georgia State University.