On April 9, the Pattonville Board of Education approved the hiring of Brian Whitfield as the director of safety, security and emergency management, effective July 1.

Whitfield is currently the district safety coordinator at North St. Francois County School District and also serves as a counter surveillance/executive protection agent for Allied Intelligence. He has more than 17 years of law enforcement experience, including serving as an officer in the St. Francois County Sheriff's Department and the Missouri State Park Rangers. Whitfield is also a plans and integration non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Air National Guard.

Whitfield has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Missouri Baptist University and associate degree in logistics management from the Community College of the Air Force and an associate of applied science from Mineral Area College.

This new director position will be responsible for managing, supervising, directing and evaluating all safety, security and emergency management activities within the district. Responsibilities will include emergency preparedness and crisis/emergency management, security audits and inspections, safety and security oversight and safety training.