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The С����Ƶ’s long-standing relationship with the С����Ƶ Police Department has fueled a new formal partnership that will give UС����Ƶ graduates a head start into the TPD police academy. This is the first partnership of its kind between TPD and a university in С����Ƶ, and another UС����Ƶ initiative to help develop С����Ƶ’s workforce and provide pathways from classroom to career.

The partnership will provide qualified UС����Ƶ students an expedited opportunity to become С����Ƶ police officers and serve the city of С����Ƶ. Eligible UС����Ƶ seniors majoring or minoring in criminology and criminal justice will spend their last semester of classes attending the TPD police academy full-time. Their academy tuition will be paid for through a TPD scholarship, and they will be hired as full-time city employees.

At the same time, the students will receive UС����Ƶ credits as part of a new practicum course that will count as part of their criminology and criminal justice degree and their overall credit total.��

Upon completion of the semester, they would graduate from UС����Ƶ. Then, upon completion of the police academy, they would be hired as TPD officers.��

“TPD approached us about this partnership after seeing it in other locations,” said Carly Hilinski-Rosick, department chair and professor of criminology and criminal justice. “This allows graduating seniors to get a four-month head start if they want to work for TPD and have a job the day they finish the academy.”

TPD Chief Lee Bercaw said that this partnership represents an investment in the future of policing in С����Ƶ. “By working alongside the С����Ƶ, we're creating a direct path for students begin their law enforcement journey with the С����Ƶ Police Department. We're proud to welcome the next generation of officers who uphold our mission of making С����Ƶ safer, together.”

Holley Tankersley, dean of the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education, added that she is pleased UС����Ƶ is leading the way in this partnership, which is the first of its kind in С����Ƶ.����

“This is a great example of UС����Ƶ and TPD working together to develop highly educated, community-minded professionals to serve the С����Ƶ Bay region,” Tankersley said. “This partnership will yield great benefits for the city of С����Ƶ and UС����Ƶ students for years to come.”

The next scholarship police academy begins in January 2027, and six UС����Ƶ students have applied. Between now and January, they will undergo a physical fitness test, oral panel interview, psychological testing, a polygraph test, and a thorough background check. If they successfully pass all those tests and have an acceptable background check, they will begin the police academy in January 2027, graduate from UС����Ƶ in May 2027, and the academy in July 2027.

In the future, the program may be offered to students in other majors.

For more information, contact Hilinski-Rosick at (813) 257-3563 or chilinskirosick@ut.edu.