Update on Drexel Police Department Review

Dear Students and Colleagues:

Drexel University recognizes the critical importance and sensitivity of policing issues to our campus community, our city and our nation. As announced in July, we retained 21CP Solutions to conduct an external review of the Drexel University Police Department (DUPD). I am writing to update you on their work.

21CP Solutions began its work in August. A Steering Committee with representation from faculty, students and professional staff is working with them. MacKenzie Luke, associate vice president for Student Success, is providing oversight of this work and the other Steering Committee members include:

• Sierra Andrews, Assistant Director/Resident Director
• Paul Apicella, JD, Equal Opportunity and Title IX Coordinator
• Rae Coleman, Executive Assistant and Events Coordinator
• Bob Curran, Director of Drexel Central
• Maurizio DeLisi, Associate Director of Operations for Drexel Public Safety
• Xavier Johnson, Human Resources Business Partner
• Donald Moore, Vice President of Real Estate and Facilities
• Samantha Snowden, USGA Sophomore Class Vice President
• Jocelyn Tarquini, PhD, Associate Teaching Professor, Film & Television

Prioritizing a multi-disciplinary approach, 21CP has added Brenda J. Bond-Fortier, PhD, to the review team. Bond-Fortier is a professor of Public Administration at the Institute for Public Service at Suffolk University in Boston. She specializes in organizational change in criminal justice, systematic and collaborative approaches to organizational and community challenges, and the development, implementation, and evaluation of public safety policies and practices. Her book, "Organizational Change in an Urban Police Department: Innovating to Reform," analyzes changes in policy, practice and community relationships to understand innovation and organizational transformation in policing. She has conducted research across the United States, published her work in journals, and been cited in major media outlets. She is a nationally respected and recognized policing scholar who is valued by practitioners and policymakers for her participation and contributions to police practice and management.

The 21CP review is focusing on key areas such as: use of force and detainment; officer training and discipline when misconduct occurs; how the Drexel University Police Department interacts with Drexel community members and the surrounding neighborhoods; interactions with other law enforcement groups such as the Philadelphia Police Department and the University of Pennsylvania Police Department; department funding; and crisis management and intervention.

The process will include a series of focus groups and interviews with key stakeholders both across the campus community and with our neighbors in Powelton Village, Mantua, and West Powelton. I want to encourage everyone who is interested in sharing their experiences and perspectives on the Drexel University Police Department to do so by emailing voicesofdrexel@21cpsolutions.com. These emails will be kept confidential to the 21CP team and will help inform the final report from 21CP Solutions. I encourage all of you to provide your input to help guide this process. Individuals may email that address to request an interview with the consultants or may call 844.767.2127 directly.

We view this external review of the Drexel University Police Department as an urgent priority, but it's also essential that it be thorough, providing an opportunity for maximum community input. The interview and focus groups will run through mid-November, and a draft of the report will be issued to the University by the end of the calendar year.

This external review is just one part of a much broader process we have undertaken together to better address issues of race and inequality on our campus. And for that, I would like to thank the Anti-Racism Task Force co-chairs for their leadership, and the many more task force members for their commitment to making Drexel a stronger, more diverse, welcoming and inclusive university. If you are interested in contributing your insights and experiences to their important work, please contact the co-chairs at anti-racism@drexel.edu.

Our health, safety and well-being as a campus community are essential to fulfilling our mission of teaching and learning, research and public service. While we take great pride in our Drexel University Police Department, we all share an interest in reviewing this department to ensure that it achieves the highest professional standards as a trusted partner in that mission.

Sincerely,
John Fry