Women Now Represent Nearly a Quarter of NJIT's Department of Public Safety

NJIT Department of Public Safety Chief Kevin Kesselman's appreciation for the value of female officers is born from experience.

For nine years, his partner in the department was Edna Garcia. She retired as a detective sergeant in 2020 but left a lasting impression on Kesselman, so much so that when he became chief in July 2022, adding women to the force became a top priority. Shortly thereafter, the department joined a national coalition to increase female representation in policing by 2030.

In August 2023, Public Safety had two women. Today, that number has grown to 10, representing nearly a quarter of the total staff. The change enabled the department to field its first all-female patrol shift last month. It also helped define this month's annual swearing-in and awards ceremony, where some of the new officers held children in their arms while taking an oath led by Kesselman.

"Female law enforcement officers bring that level of empathy and nurturing that you need to connect with the community," explained Kesselman, who has worked in the department since 2001. "This is particularly true with women in our community who may feel more comfortable talking to female officers. Also, these officers can be positive role models for our students. So, female representation has many rewards."

While the chief is leading the recruitment of women, he has a significant ally in Captain Heather Glogolich, an advocate for gender diversity in policing and the chief's first big hire. Glogolich, who arrived in September after serving as a lieutenant in the Morris Township Police Department, has been instrumental in recruiting new female officers and making them feel welcome.

Some have left municipal police departments or taken pay cuts to join NJIT, drawn by higher ed-only benefits like free tuition for family members and the belief that the men in the department value the different qualities that they bring, according to Glogolich. As she explained at the ceremony, "To retain qualified women, you need great men to work alongside you."

"Transitioning from municipal [policing] to this - while there are a lot of differences, the support is just unmatched [compared to what] I've ever seen in the entire state of New Jersey," she added. "That's a credit to the senior leadership. So, thank you so much."

The recruitment drive comes as the chief emphasizes community outreach among all his officers as the department seeks to deepen its connection to students, faculty and staffers. Indeed, two of the Public Safety awards this year (see below) are new and recognize outreach work.

Amid the police efforts, NJIT is also looking to accelerate gender equity among faculty members via its Women Faculty Advisory Committee. So, Public Safety's progress represents a positive sign for other such initiatives on campus.

Public Safety awards

Dozens of department members were recognized this year for saving lives, building community partnerships, capturing suspects and developing skills, with 15 receiving multiple awards. Here's a look at the honorees by category.

Life-Saving - Keila Arocho, Akhu Kerr, Ian Lawson, Robert Nieves and Anthony Tosca

Honorable Service - Keila Arocho, Tonya Atkins, Dieffe Esperience, Joseph Krueger, Katherin Merino and John Small

Exceptional Duty - Kevin Berge, Benjamin Guzman, Jeffery Johnson, Akhu Kerr, Dominique Maxis, Nicholas Mazzolla, MD Miah, Joseph Quinn and Jason Ross

Meritorious Service - Benjamin Guzman, Nicholas Mazzolla, Maurice Moore and Anthony Tosca

Command Citation - Keila Arocho (two), Dwayne Barton, Sonia Bellamy, Z'niyah Campbell, Yahyra DeLeon, Dieffe Esperience (two), David Ferrer, Jonathan Figueroa, Amani Gardner, Benjamin Guzman, Thomas Hayden, Tracy Holston (two), Jeffery Johnson, Joseph Krueger, Ian Lawson, Christopher Matousek (three), Nicholas Mazzolla, Lorena Mendez, Valerie Phillips (two), Joseph Quinn, Jason Ross (two), Simeon Shivkumar, John Small, Troy Stienstra (two), Brad Swiney, Anthony Tosca and Shanise Wiggins

Chief's Achievement - Kevin Berge

Community Engagement - Octavia Chambers-Bowman, Angela Holmes, Lorena Mendez, Emmanuel Molina, Justine Soto, Brad Swiney and Shanise Wiggins

Community Engagement Officer of the Year - Justine Soto

Public Safety Officer of the Year - Emmanuel Molina

Dispatcher of the Year - Brad Swiney

Officer of the Year - Jeffery Johnson

Sergeant of the Year - Ian Lawson

Pistol Sharpshooter (90-95%) - Kevin Berge (94.2%), Ian Lawson (93.3%), Nicholas Mazzolla (92.5%), Kevin Kesslelman (91.6%) and Michael Villani (91.6%)

Distinguished Pistol Expert (98%+) - James Casey (100%) and Joseph Krueger (98.3%)

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