Allegheny County's Community Relations and Crime Prevention Officer is a Criminal Justice Grad Student Student Profile
Meet Michael Spagnoletti
- Job Title & Employer
- Community Relations and Crime Prevention Officer, Allegheny County Police Department
- Major/Program
- Criminal Justice Administration-M.S.
- Graduation
- August 2018
- Scholarships
- Academic and Allegheny County employee discount
- Hometown
- Shaler Township and McKees Rocks, Pa.
- High School
- Sto-Rox High School
- Now Living In
- Shaler Township, Pa.
- Hobbies & Interests
- Motorcycle riding
"When Mike was contemplating going back to school to obtain his master’s degree, I couldn’t help but encourage him to do so because I knew it was a smart move for him and that Point Park would be the perfect place to further his education. The program has broadened Mike’s exposure to all aspects of policing, not just his area of expertise. The research he conducted has challenged and excited him even more about why he loves this profession."
"Point Park University provides an atmosphere that allows you to effectively balance work with school, which is really important. Also, as a veteran returning to school after being in the career field for more than three decades, Point Park has offered me a great learning environment."
As an Allegheny County police officer and veteran, what factors made you choose our criminal justice administration graduate program?
Several of my colleagues recommended Point Park’s Master of Science in criminal justice administration program to me including Scott Schubert and my direct supervisor, Maurita Bryant.
Also, I really liked that the program was offered on Saturdays and I could complete it in one year. As an officer, you don’t have a lot of free time so the accelerated format of the program really made it manageable.
Tell us about the work you do.
As the community relations and crime prevention officer for the Allegheny County Police Department, I facilitate the county’s community outreach programs. I teach various programs ranging from seat belt and pedestrian safety to bullying, internet safety and crime prevention to preschool-aged children through senior citizens. I’m an internationally certified crime prevention officer and a nationally-certified child safety seat technician.
I’m also the social media manager for our department and I’m an instructor for the Allegheny County Police Training Academy.
What have you learned from your Point Park classes?
I’ve learned more about the administration side of the criminal justice field including ethics and policy making. We have a great cohort group of students. It has been helpful to take classes with people who are also working in the field because we learn new things from each other.
Also, the professors have been outstanding. They want you to learn, they want to help you and they are always available to answer your questions. This program is a lot of work, but it will be worth it in the end to have a master’s degree.
What are your career goals and how do you think a master’s degree will help you reach them?
I retire in August from the Allegheny County Police Department so my goal is to teach criminal justice classes at a college or university. Having my master’s degree will put me in a better position to reach this goal and allow me to fulfill the education requirements to teach in higher education.
Final thoughts?
Point Park University provides an atmosphere that allows you to effectively balance work with school, which is really important. Also, as a veteran returning to school after being in the career field for more than three decades, Point Park has offered me a great learning environment. I highly recommend the criminal justice administration graduate program at Point Park!
Photo by Brandy Richey, junior multimedia major