This newly expanded Pitt program is building a community-engaged campus police department

When a Pitt student injured herself after falling off a bicycle while riding off campus on Bigelow Boulevard, she called Pitt Police, unsure of what to do next.

Officer Kieran Phoenix — then in his second month of field training — helped answer her anxious call. After patching her up, he contacted the department, which sent a truck to pick up and return the POGOH bike so the student wouldn’t be charged additional fees.

“It was awesome to get to help out like that,” said Phoenix, now a full-time officer working on the University’s Pittsburgh campus. “On campus, we have people from all over the world with different cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds. As an officer, you have to wear different hats to meet people where they are.”

Phoenix cited skills like emotional intelligence and empathetic communication as among the most important traits recruiters look for in eligible candidates for Pitt’s Police Development Program. Launched at Pitt-Bradford in 2021, the program was created to remove financial and logistical barriers for aspiring officers while building a more representative and community-focused campus police department, said Commander Brad Kiefer.

Participants receive a free Pennsylvania Police Academy certification as well as housing, meals and a stipend — an estimated $15,000 value. In return, they commit to two years of service with the University of Pittsburgh Police Department after graduating from the academy. Currently, 14 alumni, including Phoenix, are serving as officers at four of Pitt’s campuses.

“I was applying to other positions, but they didn’t cover the cost of going to the academy or pay while you were in training,” Phoenix said. “It’s motivating because the department is actively investing in you, and you don’t want to let them down.”

This paid model has enabled individuals from nontraditional backgrounds, including EMTs, IT professionals and respiratory therapists, to transition into law enforcement roles, according to Kiefer.

“We’ve seen candidates trade in their previous careers for the Pitt Police badge,” Kiefer said. “They expand on their skill sets and put them into practice through community police work.”

Community commitments

By the time participants reach their field training, they’ve already been through background checks, personality tests, physical and psychological evaluations and a police academy. After graduating six months later, they participate in a 15-week field training phase.  

During field training, trainees are paired with experienced officers to gain hands-on experience. This mentorship includes a 12-month probationary period to ensure readiness. Once this is complete, officers are evaluated and become full members of the department.

Additionally, since the late 1990s, the Pitt Police Department has required officers to have a four-year degree, a rare prerequisite in law enforcement. “This shows candidates are willing to commit to something difficult and follow through,” Commander Kiefer said. “It also prepares them for the kind of environment in which they will be working, exposing them to a variety of academic topics and experiences.”

Danielle Deasy, the first graduate of the program, said the bachelor’s degree requirement helps officers empathize with students.

“In our day-to-day job, we’re working with college students. We all went into college. We know how it is. We know how hard it can be,” said Deasy, who fulfilled her two-year obligation to serve at the University after completing the program. She has since continued her career at another local law enforcement agency and is pursuing a master’s degree in human resources law.

Once they graduate onto the Pitt Police Department, officers commit to fostering strong, positive relationships with the campus and local communities by participating in initiatives like the Special Olympics, Adopt a Highway and Be a Good Neighbor block parties.

Officer Ali Tsang said the rigor of the program exemplifies how seriously the University is working to build exceptional future police officers.

“Pitt has made a decision to do policing the right way — to put trainings in place to ensure that their police act and enforce the law, adopt standards where your primary goal is to protect the First Amendment rights of every citizen and to protect the dignity and humanity of every person,” Tsang said.

Commander Kiefer emphasized that the program is an investment in both the officers and the Pitt community.

“The Police Development Program reflects our commitment to fostering a highly skilled, community-oriented police force,” he said. “This program prepares officers to engage thoughtfully and effectively with our diverse campus communities.”

Photography by Tom Altany