Dr. Duanne Joseph Thompson

Dr. Duanne J. Thompson, known affectionately as DJ, was born on June 14, 1969, to the late Joseph Fay and Nancy Hall Thompson. He passed away on March 11, 2026, after a brief but courageous eight-day journey. For 56 years, DJ lived with wisdom, humor, and a deep spirit of generosity that touched countless lives.

A lifelong learner with an unwavering commitment to public service, DJ dedicated 34 years to law enforcement and criminal justice. At the time of his passing, he served as Executive Director of the Public Safety Institute, Academy Director, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, and Captain in the Police Department at Reinhardt University. He thrived on the demands of gang interdiction, undercover operations, SWAT, criminal investigations, digital forensics, and crime statistics reporting. In recent years, he found great purpose in teaching firearms, EVOC, active shooter response, and counter-terrorism preparedness. He also volunteered his expertise with the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute and was deeply involved with the Wildlife CSI Academy.

DJ earned his PhD in Public Safety – Criminal Justice in 2017, completing a dissertation on the preparedness of local law enforcement for domestic terrorism interdiction. Though he loved sports, scuba diving, fishing, and travel, he rarely allowed himself the time to enjoy them, choosing instead to focus on advancing best practices in training and leadership for public safety professionals. He took special pride in mentoring others and imparting the lessons he had learned throughout his career.

He is survived by his loving wife, Marianne Greenfield, PhD, his son, Brynn Jacob Thompson, and a wide circle of friends and colleagues who formed a brotherhood of thousands.