Jane Penton White

Born June 5, 1938, in Lansing, Michigan daughter of the late Harry and Laura (Switzer) Penton passed away Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at age 84 (or 49 as she would tell family and friends). Jane was a fierce advocate for women, particularly within the law enforcement community, and for all crime victims, especially for children and survivors of human trafficking.

Jane graduated from Lansing Eastern High School where she was a drum majorette in the marching band.  She attended Michigan State University and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree and later on a Master’s Degree in Political Science and Pre-Law.  She started her career as one of the first female police officers hired by the City of Lansing and most recently served as the Founder and Director of the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force.  Jane served on the Board of Directors of the Women Police of Michigan, was a member of the National Criminal Justice Association, a member of the Michigan Law Enforcement Training Directors Association, serving as their first President and as Chairperson of their Cultural Diversity in Law Enforcement Committee.  Jane was appointed by the Governor as a Council Member of the Michigan Correctional Officers Training Council and the original Michigan Commission on Human Trafficking, was a Charter Trustee of the Capital Area Community Foundation, an Executive Board member of the Capital Area United Way, and a member of the Greater Lansing Chamber of Commerce Speakers Bureau.  As Board President of the Lansing Boy’s Club in the late 1970’s, Jane pioneered the cause for it to become the Boys AND Girls Club of Lansing.  Jane was also Past President and Executive Board Member of Highfields, was a former Chairperson for the Greater Lansing Foundation, and was a member of the American Society for Training and Development. Continuing her trailblazing spirit, she earned the honor of becoming one of the nation’s first female Director of a police training facility when she led the Mid-Michigan Law Enforcement Academy at Lansing Community College.   Her career at LCC evolved into addressing and changing the lack of gender and racial diversity within the law enforcement profession and she fought for a more inclusive diverse culture, which led to change in departments around the country.   She also taught introductory Criminal Justice at MSU and LCC for over 40 years.

Jane, a lifetime Spartan, left LCC and moved her professional career to MSU and was a leader of creating the ideology of “Community Policing” and making standards to be put into practical use in hundreds of police departments around the USA and internationally. She travelled around the country speaking, teaching and implementing standards still used as core values in law enforcement today.

Jane’s passion for her work and her fierce caring for those struggling in everyday life and for those being persecuted, misused and exploited in the world led her to Found the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force.  She led the way in developing and implementing training protocols for law enforcement, medical teams, hospitality workers, and countless other agencies and industries. Her passion was validating and protecting unseen victims, going after the aggressors, getting strong political voices involved without exploitation as she “had no room for that.”

Jane won many professional awards and recognitions throughout her life including the United Nations Association Global Goals-Local Leaders Award, and was elected to the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.

Surviving are children, Matthew Cole of Chelsea, MI, Katie (Jay) Reynolds of Apex, NC, Kimberly (Oscar) Alcantara of Wilmette, IL and Rebecca (Bill) Oistad of Wilmette, IL; 11 grandchildren, Mackenzie Cole, Maggie Cole, Meghan Cole, Wilhelmina Reynolds, Jack Alcantara, Lucas Alcantara, Asher Alcantara, Hannah Schneiderman, Leah Schneiderman, Ben Oistad and Anna Oistad; sister-in-law, Janis Penton along with many nieces, nephews, and other extended family members and dear lifelong friends.  Jane was preceded in death by her husband, Jonathon R. White; brothers, H. Ronald Penton and Keith Penton; brothers-in-law, Tom and Henry White; and by her beloved cousin Helen and her husband Ross Childs.

Jane enjoyed photography, music, playing the piano and directing choirs and musical ensembles.  She was a lover of most sweets, but particularly any kind of chocolate and of gummy bears.  Point Nipigon was her extended family where she served on the Board of Directors as President and enjoyed many close friends and the view of the Straits of Mackinac.   Her proudest accomplishments however, were her children and grandchildren…and for being “JJ.”

Jane’s family would like to thank Clare and the rest of Board of Directors of the MHTTF for your unwavering support and love, the team at Sparrow Regional Cancer Center, her nurse Anjil from Residential Hospice, mom’s lifelong “sisters’ the Albert sisters, and especially the ever so loving staff at Red Cedar Lodge Senior Living for taking care of the “Queen.”

A memorial visitation will be held at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.  A celebration of Jane’s life will take place for family and dear friends later on this summer.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force “Jane White Legacy Fund.”