DEMA director announces new leader for statewide school safety program

Delaware Emergency Management Agency Director A.J. Schall recently announced the hiring of Joseph Melvin as executive director of the agency’s Comprehensive School Safety Program.

“We are excited to welcome Joey to the DEMA team and know he is the right person for the job” said Schall. “Melvin has the experience and dedication to move this vital program forward.” 

The CSSP is responsible for ensuring all Delaware public and charter schools develop and maintain comprehensive, site-specific, National Incident Management System-compliant safety and emergency preparedness plans to cover a variety of issues such as violent intruders and natural hazards. In addition to school planning support, CSSP offers training support in areas such as active assailant, mental health components or aspects, family reunification, severe weather response and more. It also provides access to the School Safety and Wellness Suite, which provides resources for students and school professionals. 

CSSP also provides compliance reviews in support of House Bill 49 and House Bill 388. The program was created in 2012 through the Omnibus School Safety Act under the Delaware Department of Safety & Homeland Security; it was moved under DEMA in 2017.

“DEMA and the department have consistently raised the bar for school safety. Delaware recently launched the SafeDE anonymous reporting tool, statewide school mapping, and reunification training. We look forward to Joey pushing the program even further. We are proud to welcome him back, and confident that he will continue to build on recent successes,” said DSHS Secretary Joshua Bushweller. 

Melvin served as deputy director for Delaware’s Comprehensive School Safety Plan during its inception. He most recently served as director of the Center for Safe Schools in Pennsylvania and has spent more than 20 years as a police officer in Delaware, where his roles included school resource officer, detective and public information officer. He also served as Region 3 director for the National Association of School Resource Officers and continues to contribute as an instructor. He holds a master’s degree from Liberty University and is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at the same institution.

“Serving as director of the Center for Safe Schools has been an invaluable experience, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity,” said Melvin. “Now, I look forward to coming home to Delaware, continuing this important work and dedicating my efforts to protecting the First State’s most valuable assets, our children.”