Meet the LEADS Scholarship Recipients

Kyle McLean is an Assistant Professor in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University. He obtained his Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina, writing a dissertation on how individuals evaluate outcome fairness in police-citizen interactions. His policing research focuses on police-community relations, police training, and evaluations of policing programs. In graduate school he worked on an NIJ-funded evaluation of a social interaction training program for police officers in the Tucson, AZ and Fayetteville, NC police departments. The study was the first of its kind to use random assignment to evaluate the effects of a low-intensity, high-repetition social interaction training program in police departments. In addition to this project, he also worked on an evaluation of the Greenville, SC police department’s body-worn camera project. As an assistant professor, he has begun to develop new projects including a study of officer perceptions of body-worn camera footage of use of force incidents that includes a component evaluating a use of force training program.

Chief Cecilia Ashe is a 27-year veteran of law enforcement who was appointed as Chief of Police for the City of Milford Police Department, DE in February 2023.  Prior to her appointment, she worked at Wilmington Police Department in Wilmington, DE for approximately 17 years, where she was assigned as the Inspector of Operations. Chief Ashe holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Wilmington University and is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Policing, Session 70. She was instrumental in the development and implementation of the Wilmington Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center, which was the first in the State of Delaware. Additionally, she developed a Crime Gun Intelligence Center in partnership with ATF that focuses on NIBIN lead investigations and has resulted in hundreds of leads in firearms investigations.

Based on her work in this field, Chief Ashe was accepted into the National Institute of Justice’s Law Enforcement Advancing Data and Science (LEADS) Program in 2019. She has most recently been recognized for her leadership, oversight and strategic planning while implementing Group Violence Intervention in Wilmington which was plagued with gun violence. This resulted in an over 58% reduction in homicides and nearly 30% reduction in shooting incidents, while simultaneously reducing citizen complaints against officer by over 22% by the end of 2022 within the City of Wilmington.

The NIJ LEADS program will facilitate Chief Ashe in advancing her knowledge of evidence-based research in law enforcement, which she will take back to her department to further its commitment to integrating research and science into policies and practices.

Dr. Cory Haberman is an assistant professor in the School of Criminal Justice and Director of the Institute of Crime Science at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Haberman has two primary research interests. First, Dr. Haberman’s research focuses on using quantitative methods to understand spatial-temporal crime patterns. Second, Dr. Haberman’s research uses mixed-methods to advance evidence-based policing with particular interests in crime analysis, hot spots policing, and focused deterrence. Dr. Haberman’s has worked with police agencies across the country on implementing innovative strategies, such as hot spots policing or focused deterrence. He is also currently working on projects related to the use of virtual reality for law enforcement training. Dr. Haberman’s work has been published in leading criminology and criminal justice journals, such as Criminology, Crime and Delinquency, Journal of Experimental Criminology, and Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency.

I received my PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina in 2015. Currently, I am an assistant professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Nebraska Omaha, where I coordinate our MA program and teach undergraduate and graduate-level classes on policing. My research centers on policing with emphases on procedural justice, legitimacy, and officer-involved shootings. To date, I have published over thirty peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and book reviews related to these and similar topics. I am thrilled to have been selected for the inaugural class of LEADS Academics, because as a criminologist, I believe it is important to convey research findings to people outside of academia – including the police and the general public. I look forward to networking and potentially collaborating with the other LEADS Academics and Scholars to advance policing through rigorous science.

Dr. Todak’s research involves collaborating with criminal justice agencies to improve employee safety and wellness, increase effectiveness, and strengthen community perceptions of the criminal justice system. Her main research areas include police use of technology; the effects of diversity in criminal justice and the unique experiences of minority criminal justice employees; mental health and wellness in police and corrections officers; and use of force and de-escalation strategies. She is currently studying women’s experiences with promotion, specialty assignments, and leadership in policing. She has worked with agencies across the country, such as the Spokane (WA) Police Department, the Jefferson County (AL) Sheriff’s Office, and the Tempe (AZ) Police Department.

Commander John Koch joined the Colorado Springs Police Department in 2002, where he served as a patrol officer for the first five years of his career. He then transferred to detective positions in the Crimes Against Children Unit (2007-2010) and Homicide Unit (2010-2013). He was promoted to sergeant in 2013, serving as a patrol supervisor (2013-2014), detective sergeant in the Special Victims Section (2014-2017), and Internal Affairs sergeant (2018). Promoted to lieutenant in 2018, he was a patrol watch commander in the Sand Creek Division (2018-2019) and the Strategic Information Center lieutenant in Metro VNI (2019-2020). Promoted to commander in 2020, he is currently assigned to the Gold Hill Division.

Commander Koch holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Master’s of Public Administration degree from the University of Colorado – Colorado Springs.

After 26 plus years with the Richmond (VA) Police Department, David Naoroz retired from sworn service with the City of Richmond and has recently been appointed as Senior Policy Advisor to the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. Previously, he has served in numerous leadership roles within the Richmond Police Department, a 15-year member of the SWAT Team, and a use of force instructor for the academy responsible for designing the training currently employed by the department. His research interests include recruitment, training, officer wellness, and police technology. Mr. Naoroz is a graduate of the University of Richmond.

Detective Matt Jones is presently assigned to the homicide unit within the Tempe Police Department and has worked in law enforcement for the past 19 years. Det Jones has completed assignments in Patrol, Robbery, the Criminal Apprehension and Surveillance Team, and the U.S. Marshal’s Violent Offender Task Force. Det Jones has obtained a B.A. degree in Political Science/Criminal Justice and a M.A. degree in Forensic Psychology. Det Jones’ primary interests and expertise revolve around science-based interviewing techniques for local law enforcement. Since 2015, Det Jones has been collaborating with research psychologists involved with science-based interviewing areas such as rapport building, information elicitation, cognitive interviewing, eyewitness memory, addressing resistance and credibility assessment. Det Jones participates both in the science-based interviewing research and training, and recently developed of a science-based interviewing 5-day curriculum created specifically for local law enforcement to be taught by law enforcement.

Michael Weissberg is a 22 year veteran police officer, crime scene investigator, and instructor. Sergeant Weissberg was honorably retired from the South Miami Police Department where he served as an officer, detective, executive officer, administrative officer, administrative sergeant, patrol sergeant, special projects director, command staff member, and grants manager. Weissberg now serves as an administrative officer, instructor, and Grants Manager for the Miccosukee Tribal Police Department.

Officer Weissberg is a 30 year veteran professor and was the Program Director and Chair of the Associate's Degree Program in Crime Scene and the Bachelor's Program in Forensic Science at Keiser University's Pembroke Pines, FL campus, and co-chair of Criminal Justice, Legal Studies, and Homeland Security; he was an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Florida International University and Miami Dade College. Weissberg has Master’s degrees in education, psychology, and criminal justice, and an Educational Specialist degree in Leadership.

Christian Peterson has been a Crime Analyst with the City of Portland since 2013. As a member of the Strategic Services Division, he has worked to leverage new survey tools and methodologies, engage with the community to evaluate and recommend effective policing strategies that align with community concerns, and empower the police department to continuously grow and sustain evidence-based practices for effective law enforcement strategies and operations. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Criminology from Portland State University, with additional training in Law Enforcement Planning and Intelligence Analysis. As a member of the LEADS program, he is anticipating being able to fully embrace the LEADS network of professionals to continue to learn, lead, and drive change within the Portland Police Department, as well as influence and advance this, and the next, generation of Law Enforcement Professionals.

Kathryn Greenbeck has served with the Baltimore County Police Department since 2001. She is currently a Shift Commander at one of the Department’s largest patrol precincts. In her tenure with the Baltimore County PD, she has been assigned to several patrol precincts, the Hostage Negotiation Team, the mobile technology unit, and the training academy.  Lt. Greenbeck holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland. In addition, her Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Baltimore culminated in her graduate thesis, titled “Pre-Employment and Background Variables as Predictors of Success in the Police Academy.”  She also contributed to a publication on correlates of police academy success.  Lt. Greenbeck’s research interests include integration of evidence-based concepts into police training and education, the use of data to improve patrol operational procedures,  the effects of “procedural justice” on various police interactions, and police/mental health collaborations.

Dr. Chase Wetherington has been a sworn law enforcement in Tampa, FL since 2012. He currently holds the rank of Corporal with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, where he has served in a variety of positions throughout the agency and is currently assigned to the District II Investigations and Intelligence Unit. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of South Florida, Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University, and Ph.D. degree in Criminal Justice from Walden University, where he now serves as a contributing faculty member. The focus of much of his research and Ph.D. dissertation focuses on law enforcement officer characteristics, including formal academic education levels, veteran status and age, and their impact on disciplinary issues and performance. He is hoping to work with other LEADS Scholars to illustrate how research and science can improve law enforcement today and in the future.

Eric Dlugolenski began his LEADS Scholarship as a practitioner — serving the West Haven Police Department, CT. During his LEADS tenure, he completed his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice at the University of New Haven, CT. In the fall of 2020, he accepted a position as an Assistant Professor with the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Central Connecticut State University. His role in the program has transitioned accordingly, and he is now a LEADS Academic.

Prior to joining academia, he served as a police sergeant. He spent nine years with the department and held numerous roles and responsibilities. His last assignment was Sergeant of the Professional Standards Division. As an administrator, he drafted and updated policies and procedures for the police department, oversaw internal affairs, maintained state accreditation/compliance standards, supervised crime analysts, served as the grant coordinator for the department, and engaged in research and development. Prior to leaving the West Haven Police Department, he engaged in the national conversation of policing in the 21st century as a National Police Foundation (NPF) Fellow.

His research interests include procedural justice, police operational strategies, officer health and wellness, police culture, and police management. His dissertation research looks at the joint effects of order-maintenance policing and procedural justice delivered via foot patrols. His outcomes of interest include perceived risk of victimization, police legitimacy, disorder, and collective efficacy.

Lieutenant Mike Thomas is a 16-year veteran of the Norfolk Police Department and the current Officer in Charge of the department’s Special Crimes Unit.  Currently, Lt. Thomas sits on several multi-disciplinary teams including the Norfolk Criminal Justice System’s Evidence Based Decision Making Group, Norfolk Police Department Evidence Based Decision Making Group, Norfolk Sexual Assault and Domestic Assault Response Team, and the Norfolk Family Justice Center Workgroup. Lt. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University, a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University, and is a Doctoral Candidate at Regent University studying Organizational Leadership and Human Resource Development. Lt. Thomas is an instructor for IACP’s Leadership in Police Organizations course and is a Trilogy Award recipient after attending FBI-LEEDA’s Supervisor Leadership Institute, Command Leadership Institute, and Executive Leadership Institute. He has conducted multiple research projects within the Norfolk Police Department related to servant leadership, emotional intelligence, police leader burnout, and learning organizations. Working with the LEADS program, Lt. Thomas hopes to learn how to use evidence-based research methods to improve organizational climate and leadership.

Paul Ladouceur is the Chief of Police with the Estevan Police Service, which was the first Saskatchewan-based department to join the Canadian Society of Evidence-Based Policing (CAN-SEBP). Paul is a recent master's graduate and was a keynote speaker at a recent CAN-SEBP event in Saskatoon to discuss his work and views on evidence-based policing and why his own service has adopted this approach.

Rich Johnston recently began a partnership with BetaGov to conduct a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in the Barrie Police Service, making it one of the first agencies in Canada to run its own RCT. Rich's efforts were integral in expanding the LEADS program internationally. He holds a master's in leadership studies from the University of Guelph.

C. Daniel Wagner has served the City of Cambridge, MA as a police officer since 1998. He currently holds the rank of Deputy Superintendent and is the Commanding Officer of the Procedural Justice Section, where he leads the Crime Analysis Unit and the Office of Rights and Liberties--a new unit to ensure the Department adheres to the principles of procedural justice and legitimacy as well as fair and impartial policing. Deputy Superintendent Wagner works with passion to reduce crime and social harm, improve police-community relations, and advance policing. He has applied his keen interest in research, data-analytics, and community policing to develop successful crime prevention strategies. He is the founding vice president of the American Society of Evidence-Based Policing, serves on the Bureau of Justice Assistance Criminal Justice Technology Forecasting Group, and is a Policing Fellow at the Police Foundation in Washington DC. He holds a Master's in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Officer Bonkiewicz is a police officer with 10 years of experience in patrol, recruitment, pre-employment interviewing, and background investigations, as well as quantitative research methods and data analysis. He has analyzed data on racial disparities in traffic stops, driver's license suspension programs, gang intervention initiatives, assault on officer incidents, and use of control incidents. He has also published peer-reviewed research on patrol officer productivity, police response to mental health calls for service, violence in drug markets, and the role of police in disasters and evacuations. Currently assigned to LPD's Management Services Unit, Officer Bonkiewicz writes LPD's grants, assists with CALEA accreditation, identifies and develops evidence-based policies and practices, and coordinates research projects involving LPD's academic partners.

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Major David Dalton has nearly 25 years of law enforcement experience with both the Auburndale (Florida) Police Department and the Clearwater Police Department. He began his career with the Clearwater Police Department in 1996 and is currently assigned as the Support Services Division Commander, with oversight of numerous functions including: personnel, training, budget/fiscal management, property/evidence, and communications. Major Dalton possesses extensive experience in investigations, training, recruitment, policy development, accreditation, community/neighborhood policing, and technology implementation. Major Dalton has been recognized for his commitment to research driven principles, civic engagement, and community partnerships. He maintains strong relationships with research institutions, including the University of South Florida, Department of Criminology. Major Dalton holds both a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and a master's degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of South Florida.

Stan is responsible for the Strategic Planning and Analytics Reporting branch of the Durham Regional Police Service, which includes oversight of the department's in-service training. He has worked for two of Ontario's larger police services and has expertise across a broad range of policing issues. He is working towards his doctorate in Policing and Security at Charles Sturt University and holds a bachelor's from St. Francis Xavier University and an MBA from Queen's University. He is an executive member of the Canadian Society of Evidence-Based Policing (CAN-SEBP).

Chief Jason Bruder has served the City of Charleston since 2002. He recently worked with City Council and the Mayor's Office to complete an external audit of police racial bias. He previously commanded the West Ashley Patrol Team and supervised the Field Intelligence Unit and School Security Response Teams. Lieutenant Bruder also works on numerous process improvements to ensure quality and efficient work by officers. He holds a bachelor's degree in computer science, a master's degree in homeland security management from Long Island University, and is a graduate of the 62nd session of the Administrative Officers Management Program at North Carolina State University. Chief Bruder completed the FBI’s National Academy, 279th session.  Working with LEADS, he hopes to improve the use of police data to improve patrol strategies and officer training.

Sergeant Matthew Barter has been with the Manchester Police Department for 10 years and is currently assigned to the patrol division. He was previously a Task Force Officer with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and Crime Analyst with the Crime Analysis Unit. Detective Barter has implemented numerous evidence-based policing practices within the agency, to include a data-driven hotspot policing concept and violent crime reduction initiatives. Recently, Detective Barter worked to integrate National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) technology and gun crime intelligence into strategic planning processes with law enforcement partners. He holds a master's degree and bachelor's degree in criminal justice and is interested in pursuing research regarding police patrol patterns as well as place-based crime. Detective Barter also serves as a SWAT Officer and leads the Tactical Emergency Medical Support Unit.

Deputy Inspector Tara Calabro has proudly served as a police officer with the New York City Police Department for 19 years. She currently serves as the Commanding Officer of the Enterprise Risk Management Division in the Professional Standards Bureau. She has previously managed and supported collaborative research projects and data analysis to inform policy recommendations, initiatives and program development under the Chief of Strategic Initiatives. During her tenure with the NYPD, Deputy Inspector Calabro has held patrol assignments, supervised a precinct crime analysis unit, worked as an analyst for the Real Time Crime Center, and lead the Information Technology Bureau's Program Management Office.

Lieutenant Emma O'Flanagan is a 12-year veteran of the Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD), and has served in various positions throughout the police department. Lieutenant O'Flanagan is currently assigned to the Professional Standards Division, responsible for research and planning, training, compliance, accreditation, policy development, internal affairs investigations, and crime analysis. Lieutenant O'Flanagan holds a bachelor's and master's degree in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University and is a recent graduate of the NJSACOP Command and Leadership Academy. Lieutenant O'Flanagan has a wide variety of research interests including practical applications of data analysis, officer wellness, hiring and retention of officers, PTSD, and women in law enforcement.

Commander Chris Vallejo is a strategic and innovative Senior Law Enforcement Official and 29-year veteran of the Austin Police Department and the currently an Investigations Commander.

Commander Vallejo holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science with specializations in constitutional law and political science. He is a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institution for Police Leadership School and has completed advanced coursework and training in evidenced-based policing and executive leadership.

He was awarded a prestigious NIJ LEADS Scholar fellowship, dedicated to supporting police leaders in their use of research and science to inform policy and practice, and has extensive experience delivering operational, investigative, and administrative leadership at the line, supervisory and command levels. A recognized community leader, Chris has fostered long-lasting trust and accountability through countless partnerships with local community organizations and national educational institutions dedicated to reform, racial equality, and justice.

Commander Vallejo is a National Policing Institute Executive Policing Fellow, delivering counsel and direction to the NPF on contemporary issues in policing. He is a nationally recognized advocate for police reform through 21st-century policing principles, evidence-based community policing strategies, and collaboration, serving as a volunteer board member for the Texas Justice Institute.

In partnership with Texas State University and the National Policing Institute, Commander Vallejo has conducted occupational stress research to support the APD’s wellness initiatives and ensure performance management and optimal health of his officers and command. He has received notable commendations and awards for his police service and leadership including the Meritorious Unit Citation, and Superior Service Citation, and is a two-time recipient of the Patrol Unit of the Year Award.

Evidence-based policing with a focus on 21st-century policing principles, integrity, and community partnership is Commander Vallejo’s leadership philosophy and focus to support the City of Austin, and the diverse communities that it serves.