MEET OUR
TEAM
Cedric Mitchell (retired Detective) from Washington, DC, began his law enforcement career in 1988 with Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) and maintained a distinguished career for 27 years. In 1993, he was promoted to Detective in the Criminal Investigation Division after serving in the uniform patrol and plainclothes units. As a detective and plain-clothes officer, he had numerous daily interactions with people of various cultural and social backgrounds. He developed the ability to adapt to changing situations and built a rapport with individuals. A further step in his career advancement came in 2007 when he was assigned to the FBI-Joint Terrorism Task Force and participated in the detail for the 2009 Inauguration of Barack H. Obama II. As one of the most decorated officers from the MTPD, he retired from the department in 2012 and joined the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority's Office of Inspector General. He served as a senior investigator for four years.
He established CTC Solutions LLC. in 2016 to bring a distinctive training and education method to law enforcement and the community. This was done by creating a new paradigm for a broken system. He has always believed in giving back to the community. After several years on the police force, he persuaded several colleagues to help him establish a mentoring program at Andrew Jackson Middle School, he coached basketball, T-ball, and football at the Glenarden Boys & Girls Club and later AAU basketball for the Maryland Panthers Youth Association all within Prince George's County, Maryland. He is currently a mentor with Promise Youth Development in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mitchell is a nationally recognized educator and subject matter expert in the field of robbery pickpocket & identity theft investigations. During his career, he has been featured on both national and local television networks to provide insight and analysis. He believes that Law Enforcement is the heartbeat of the community, and their commitment to serve and protect humanity keeps us going.
Dr. Debra Smith Associate Professor in the Africana Studies Department at UNC Charlotte. Her research and teaching interests include ways in which media influence student learning; African-Americans in communication and popular culture, minority images in the media, and developing teaching strategies that incorporate popular culture, language, and power. At UNC Charlotte Dr. Smith teaches media courses, introductory Africana Studies courses, and courses in minority health disparities. Dr. Smith is the author of the book, The Words Unspoken: The Hidden Power of Language(Carolina Academic Press), which examines issues of language and power. She was a 2014 Bank of America Teaching Finalist for excellence in teaching.
EDUCATION: Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Masters Degrees from both UNC Charlotte and East Carolina University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Michael Taborn (retired Police Chief) was employed with the Metro Transit Police Department (WMATA) for 33 years, the last 6 of those years were as the Chief of Police. Prior to returning to WMATA as the Chief of Police, he spent six years working in the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Office of Safety and Security in several capacities. He was initially a training specialist. Michael Taborn coordinated FTA Safety and Security training activities with the National Transit Institute (NTI), the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI), and worked with other FTA offices to ensure training programs in the area of safety and security were developed. Michael Taborn ultimately became the Director of the Office of Safety and Security (FTA).
EDUCATION: M.S., Management, Johns Hopkins University, 1999
B.S., Criminal Justice, University of Maryland-University College, 1997
FBI National Academy – 147th Session, Department of Justice, 1986
Clifton (Smokey) Douglas has worked for the United States Government Accountability Office since 1983. He is an Assistant Director responsible for managing GAO audits and developing and directing comprehensive investigations of government and government-related programs. He has also spent the last thirty years working with the Glenarden Ardmore Boys and Girls Club which provides sports and educational opportunities for approximately 500 youth in Prince George County, MD. Since 2001, Smokey has served as Club President and been responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Club’s activities. In addition, he has also served the Club as Athletic Director, Basketball Commissioner, Football Commissioner, and Head Coach (basketball, football, and baseball). In addition, from 2000 to 2015, Smokey was the President of the Maryland Panthers Youth Association Basketball program, a non-profit youth organization that promotes leadership and development opportunities through basketball competition. In addition, Smokey was a member of St. Mary’s College Men’s Basketball team from 1981 through 1983.
EDUCATION: St. Mary’s College of Maryland (B.A. in Economics)
Ray Gray is a Mental Health Professional trained in Conflict resolution, Trauma, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Teaching the connection between the brain, body, and behavior, by working to learn healthier behaviors/habits and change unrealistic ideas about yourself and the world around you. As an Occupational Therapy grad and Qualified Mental Health Professional Ray is familiar with Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, and the relationship between human movement and psychology from having worked in Rehab and now Mental Health. He believes you must know the most interesting person in the world: “You". Ray has been in the Mental/Physical/Emotional/Behavioral Health field for the past 25 years.
EDUCATION: B.S, Occupational Therapy, Howard University Associate, Allied Health
In Memoriam - Gone but Not Forgotten Dr. Phyllis McDonald Associate Professor with the Division of Public Safety Leadership (PSL) at John Hopkins University. She conducted research, managed program development projects, taught leadership courses for undergraduate and graduate students and worked with local public safety agencies. Dr. McDonald conducted projects for: The Federal Transit Administration (USDOT); the Transportation Security Administration (DHS); State of Maryland MTA; Delaware State Police, and the Metro Transit Police and Department of Safety, WMATA. Dr. McDonald’s work experience included 20 years in local police agencies prior to joining the PSL faculty in 2000. She served five years, achieving the rank of a three-star executive commander, with the NYC Transit Police and five years as a senior program manager, National Institute of Justice, USDOJ. As a Superintendent of Professional Standards, she served at the sworn rank of Major with the Dayton, OH “Police Department.” Her publications include two books and several articles, papers, and presentations.
EDUCATION: B. A. and M. A. State University of New York at Albany
Ed. S. and Ed. D George Washington University
Phyllis was a key contributor in the development of the training The Police Officer: A New Paradigm, bridging the gap through P.E.A.C.E (Police Education And Community Engagement)