On May 22, 2023, St. John’s was the victim of a swatting incident—the act of making a serious yet false emergency report that initiates a tactical response from law enforcement (the term comes from the SWAT teams that are sometimes dispatched). Among the first to arrive on campus was then Danvers Police Patrol Supervisor Sgt. Steve MacDonald.
For MacDonald, the stakes were personal. He wasn’t just responding as a veteran officer, but as a father, too. His son, Maddox, was a junior at the Prep at the time.
The incident highlighted the evolving complexities of school security. In response, St. John’s established a new position: director of safety and emergency management. Drawing on more than 26 years of experience with the Danvers Police Department and tapping into a lifetime of local roots, MacDonald decided to make the shift from police sergeant to serving the St. John’s Prep community, one he knows well.
“I grew up one street over from the Prep. It was my playground growing up,” says MacDonald. “I was here every day doing something. I feel like I was connected to this place my whole 25 years while I was a police officer. Whether it was working here or driving through, I was always here.”
Joining the Prep in the summer of 2024, MacDonald became the first employee dedicated exclusively to the safety of the Prep campus. His background allows him to bridge the gap between law enforcement tactics and the unique needs of an educational environment. “St. John’s is 100 percent committed to providing an environment where students feel safe. A strong foundation for school safety was already in place when I arrived, but I do feel like I bring a unique perspective. For example, with the swatting incident, I was able to look back at the event from the perspective of a parent, law enforcement officer, and now employee and see the many things the school did well and where we could improve.”
Safety is not a static goal. MacDonald treats it as a continual evolution. He spends much of his time researching best practices at peer institutions to ensure the Prep remains ahead of the curve. He notes that the field requires the same level of adaptability he practiced in the police department.
“Best practices can change. When I was with the Danvers Police, in terms of tactics one day you may say, ‘We’re going to enter the building and we’re going to do this.’ The next time, it was, ‘We’re not entering the building, we’re going to do this instead.’ It’s similar here. I try to make sure that I stay on top of what other places are doing, what’s working, and what’s not working.”
As he continues to explore the duties and responsibilities of his role, MacDonald’s work is a blend of high-level strategy and hands-on oversight. Along with conducting frequent campus walk-throughs to assess the basics— ensuring locks work, windows are secure—MacDonald also surveys campus access points, monitors publicly available information like floor plans, and keeps an eye on campus vendors and visitors. To ensure a culture of readiness, he has also increased training and drills to help the community prepare for emergency situations. He manages a dedicated team of campus safety officers, maintaining a constant, reassuring presence amongst students and faculty. With MacDonald focused on safety, students can focus on all the Prep has to offer.
“The Prep’s mission and values provide a strong foundation for all the students as they move forward in the world, regardless of their calling or occupation. For me, I needed a school like St. John’s to give me the foundation that’s been with me and benefited me since I graduated.”
Whether wearing a sergeant’s chevrons or a School ID, MacDonald’s career is defined by a singular, noble calling: the tireless protection of the community he calls home.
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