SPARTAN ALUMNUS INDUCTED INTO SCHOOL OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE HALL OF FAME

Charlevoix native and current resident, Ritchie T. Davis, was inducted into the Michigan State University, School of Criminal Justice, Wall of Fame during a ceremony held at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center on the Michigan State University campus.

The Wall of Fame salutes the accomplishments and careers of outstanding law enforcement professionals who are alumni of Michigan State University’s Criminal Justice Program. Davis received this honor during an induction ceremony held on campus this past November.

The prestigious award honors a select group of alumni who have distinguished themselves by attaining the highest level of professional accomplishment while demonstrating strong personal integrity and character in their criminal justice careers. Davis, who was nominated by Dennis Halverson, retired police chief of Charlevoix Police Department noted the surprise he felt in being part of the induction ceremony.

“It was just such a surprise for me to be a part of all of this,” Davis said. “It is such a great honor. I’ve done quite a bit of work at Michigan State so there was a lot of history there for me to be back on campus and receive an award.”

Davis graduated from Michigan State University earning a bachelor's degree from the School of Criminal Justice in 1974. He later went on to obtain his Master of Public Administration from Western Michigan University. Beginning his career as a patrol officer with the Ann Arbor Police Department and later with the Michigan State University Public Safety Department, Davis became a trooper with the Michigan State Police in 1963 as a member of the 52nd recruit school class. Working his way through the ranks of the state police, Davis was later appointed director by Governor James Blanchard, becoming the 12th director in the history of the department. Davis was then promoted to colonel in 1991.

Longtime friend and coworker, David Verhougstraete, said of Davis, “He was an instrumental part of affirmative action in the department and was a man of great integrity.

“I had the privilege of working with the colonel as part of the department and he was just one of those class act guys," Verhougstraete continued. "Everybody just thought he was the greatest."

Aside from his career within civil services, Davis’ career also included project director for the Michigan Truck Safety Commission, where he was credited with many innovative statewide professional truck driver safety programs, as well as serving as one of the original commissioners of the Michigan Gaming Commission appointed by Gov. John Engler.

While still an active presence in the Michigan State Police Retirees Network, Davis enjoys spending his free time in and around the Charlevoix community where he lives with his wife Marsha. Currently he is working with the Michigan State Police Department to help provide historical insight for the department’s 100 years of service celebration, which officially begins in April 2017.