Criminal Justice Administration Alumnus Advocating for Improved Community and Police Relationships Alumni Profile

Tell us about the work you do as a heritage liaison officer for the Pennsylvania State Police.

Since 2015, I have heavily taken it upon myself to try to engage my community on an everyday basis and attempt to bridge the gap between the community and law enforcement. With doing that, I have accumulated thousands of positive relationships with schools, children, community leaders, clergy, state representatives, state senators, mayors, fire departments, municipal police departments and many more. These relationships were key to working together within the communities I serve so we can better the outlook and relationships when it comes to law enforcement and the community.

Also, I have worked on several community events with a lot of different agencies and community members in the past five years including programs like Shop with a Cop, Touch a Fire Truck and Police Car and Trick or Trunk Halloween events. Additionally, I have facilitated many community conversation meetings with community members so that we can have a better vision of what the community needs and how law enforcement can better serve them.

Recently, the front office within the Pennsylvania State Police has created several full-time positions within the Heritage Affairs Office. They personally have seen the positive impact that community engagement has had on the communities that we serve. Within my Office we respond, investigate and oversee hate crimes and/or bias-related incidents that happen throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. My main goal is that we ensure the community and law enforcement have positive interactions and continue to a develop growing and transparent relationship with each other. 

How has our M.S. in criminal justice administration program helped you succeed in your career? 

Having a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Point Park University has helped me tremendously with advancing in my career and securing teaching positions at the college level.

What do you believe sets Point Park apart from other universities?

Point Park University truly caters to its students and makes it accessible for a full-time employee to gain a master’s degree while working 40 hours per week. The Saturday cohort classes were amazing and made it easy for me to complete my degree while working full time. 

Share with us a favorite Point Park memory.

My favorite memory from Point Park is having my mother, father and sister watch me walk across the stage for graduation. I don’t come from much and early in my life I was told that I couldn’t do many things. I never would have thought that I would be the first one in my family to achieve a college degree. Point Park University has made that possible for me and I am forever grateful for the opportunities that they have given me.  

What career advice do you have for our criminal justice students? 

My career advice is to listen and learn as much as you possibly can. Criminal Justice is a fast-changing profession and things change daily. Also, find good mentors who you can lean on as you go through your journey. My mentors have truly molded me and have been a huge help with my success.

Connect with Corporal Aaron J. Allen

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