Fort Hays State University (FHSU) is making strides in improving community policing and enhancing law enforcement training after being awarded an $800,000 grant by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). This funding will allow FHSU to expand its de-escalation training initiatives, part of the university's commitment to building trust and safety within communities. The new grant increases federal support for these programs to more than $3.5 million.
The grant is designated for the Central Region Training Center of the National De-escalation Training Center, which is based within FHSU’s Criminal Justice Program. Dr. Tamara Lynn, chair and professor of criminal justice at FHSU, emphasized the importance of this funding for equipping law enforcement officers with necessary tools to manage challenging situations effectively. “The funding provided by the COPS Office is ... prioritizing the safety of all parties involved,” she noted.
Through these training initiatives, FHSU aims to improve officer safety, reduce the number of use-of-force incidents, and strengthen community trust. The program will incorporate various methods including traditional procedural justice and crisis intervention techniques, focusing heavily on communication skills and conflict resolution training.
“Fort Hays State University has been leading the way ... communicate with the public more effectively,” said Dr. Morgan Steele, assistant professor of criminal justice. These training sessions are not only focused on the officers’ responses but also seek to bridge the divide between law enforcement and the community.
Meanwhile, the Altoona Area School District is also facilitating meaningful interactions between students and local first responders. Recently, students from the Stevens building programs had the chance to engage directly with officers from various local police and fire departments during an event dubbed 'Pizza with a Purpose'. This innovative program, organized by social worker Alicia Williams and the Because We Care Foundation, aims to forge lasting relationships between first responders and young community members.
During the event, which took place on January 30, 2025, students enjoyed pizza and asked the first responders questions, ranging from light-hearted queries about snacks to more serious inquiries about their jobs. Some students were visibly excited to connect with officers and hear their stories. “This is a service job, and we’re here because we want to help people,” said Penn State Altoona campus police officer Troy Johannides, addressing the common misconceptions about police work. He emphasized the importance of seeing police as allies rather than adversaries.
Students like Adriana Ammerman, who is interested in following her father's footsteps in firefighting, found the interaction to be very inspiring. “They encouraged me to follow my path for what I want to do with volunteer firefighting,” she said, highlighting the motivational aspect of the event.
Quevyn Smith, 14, shared his enjoyment of the experience, stating, “It was pretty fun today actually.” His peer, Aneia Smith, 13, expressed her enthusiasm for pursuing her dreams after hearing encouragement from the first responders about exploring various career paths, including her interest in cosmetology.
Altoona officer Quint Stickel advised the students, “The first thing you try isn’t the thing you have to do forever. Figure out what your interests are, try different things and see what sticks.” This message reinforced the idea of exploration and personal growth.
The program has also inspired students to take action within their community. Each student was challenged to give away stuffed animals with inspirational messages, courtesy of Joseph Zolna from the Central PA Humane Society, to those who might be going through difficult times. “It’s just a reminder to the recipient ... they are cared about,” DiGennaro said, underlining the initiative's goal of fostering community well-being.
Events like those at FHSU and Altoona demonstrate the continuous efforts of law enforcement to engage positively with their communities creatively. Linking education, safety, and compassionate service is fundamental to building trust and enhancing the community-policing paradigm.