LIVONIA, MICH. – Madonna alumnus Bryant George, recently received the 2023 Governor's Service Awards Youth Impact Award in recognition for his work with young people in Detroit; his hometown. Sergeant Bryant George serves at the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) as part of the Chief’s Neighborhood Liaison Office and helps youth find their greatness while having a positive experience with law enforcement. His impact is transformational for so many as he interacts with youth every day, whether as a volunteer or while in the line of duty as a Detroit police officer. Engaged in mentoring in many ways, George credits his own mentor and coach, Lt. Robert Johnson as the reason he knew he too would one day publicly serve as a police officer.
George has first-hand experience of the impact that officers can make through Detroit PAL, because he played basketball for a Detroit Police Officer as a kid and helped lead his team to winning the ‘Think Detroit PAL’ Boys’ Basketball Championship in 2002. As a first-generation college student, and two-sport scholar athlete (Basketball and Cross Country), George graduated in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Before joining the Detroit Police Department, George worked at Madonna for nearly
five years as an Admissions Officer. During that time, he developed the Bridging Lost
Gaps (BLG) program to help increase the enrollment, retention, and graduation rates
of black male students from Detroit. He earned a master’s in higher education administration
in 2019.
George attributes much of his success to his educational experience at Madonna. "It
changed my life," George said. "I tell everybody about my experience at Madonna."
He quickly found a way to merge his expertise in higher education student affairs and law enforcement at Detroit PAL. As an essential part of PAL’s Critical Conversation Program, which creates a safe space for youth, community members and law enforcement personnel gather to discuss current events between the police and community.
Officer George graduated from ProsperUS Detroit – Entrepreneur Training Program in 2021, and launched Game Game Mobile & More, LLC – a mobile video game business. The mobile resource gives children and adults an opportunity to create memories forever through a luxury gaming experience. George’s business was honored with a 2021 Spirit of Detroit Award from the Detroit City Council. George continues to be a mentor and positive role model for Detroit youth, and to inspire others around him to do more and to create the positive changed needed for young people.
He was named Michiganian of the Year in 2018, and Madonna University’s Distinguished Alumnus in 2019.
A few of Officer George’s other awards include: the Detroit Branch NAACP – 2021 Great Expectation Award, four Spirit of Detroit Awards (2005, 2014, 2015, and 2021), 2019 National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives - National Associate Member “Shining Star” Award, 2015 Michigan Chronicle Newspaper 40 under 40 Award, Michigan Commission of Law Enforcement Standards – 2017 Outstanding Performance Award, President’s Volunteer Service Award, 2016 Corporation for National and Community Service, and a proud recipient of the 2014 Black Male Engagement Leadership Award.
