Another Academy class graduates!
Last month in Washington, D.C., we celebrated the graduation of the third cohort of the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Policing Leadership Academy (PLA). The 35 graduates, hailing from 35 localities across the United States and Canada, received a five-month hands-on education in data-driven management, violence reduction, and community trust.
We were thrilled to welcome an extraordinary set of guest speakers who inspired, challenged, and celebrated our graduates. Among them were Karhlton Moore, Director of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance; Chief J. Thomas Manger of the United States Capitol Police; and Administrator Anne Milgram of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. To add a personal touch to the ceremony, Chief John Chambers of the Chattanooga Police Department and Assistant Chief Stacie Schaner of the Tucson Police Department shared their powerful stories as student speakers.
The event’s impact was amplified by heartfelt video messages from U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and John Cornyn, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, and police chiefs from across the country. Their words underscored the significance of this milestone, leaving everyone inspired to continue advancing public safety innovation.
View photo gallery from the event
Continue to help us make this possible
We are so proud of the Policing Leadership Academy’s impact on our participants and the communities they serve.
As we look to 2025, we remain committed to offering this innovative training at no cost to law enforcement agencies nationwide. Your generous support makes these transformative experiences possible, and we hope you’ll continue to invest in our mission to reduce violence across our nation.
Meredith Stricker
PLA Executive Director
University of Chicago Crime Lab
Katie Hill
Executive Director
University of Chicago Crime Lab
Roseanna Ander
Founding Executive Director
University of Chicago Crime Lab
Thank you to our PLA funders and supporters!
The Community Safety Leadership Academies, which the PLA is a part of, were launched with a leadership gift from Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst, and a gift from Michael Sacks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GCM Grosvenor. The CSLA is also supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Bulls Community Assist Fund, and White Sox Community Fund, which are both funds of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Bulqit, Dalio Education, John DeBlasio/DeBlasio Family Foundation, Thomas and Susan Dunn, Perry Fisher, Matt Hinerfeld and Nora Jaskowiak, IMC, R.J. Melman and Lettuce Entertain You, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Neubauer Family Foundation, Ken O’Keefe, Options Clearing Corporation, Pritzker Pucker Family Foundation, Jeff and Maggie Shapack and Shapack Partners, Steans Family Foundation, United Airlines, Anonymous Foundation, and Anonymous Individual.