Saint Leo University-Savannah Hosting Community Policing Talk

SAVANNAH ­– Saint Leo University’s Savannah Education Center will host a discussion on Community Policing: Partnerships and Problem Solving, at 6 p.m., Thursday, January 27.

The guest speaker is Saint Leo alumnus and retired St. Petersburg (FL) Police Department Maj. Scott MacDonald.

This interactive seminar will provide law enforcement practitioners with the tools necessary to define, develop, nurture, and maintain partnerships to improve the quality of life in their respective communities. It also will provide insight into proven problem-solving techniques and real-life examples that can be used to reduce crime and the fear of victimization.

Community policing recognizes that policing is wide-ranging and incorporates more than crime fighting. It helps resolve conflicts and prevent accidents in addition to solving problems and fighting fear.

This program is open to law enforcement professionals; those interested in studying criminal justice, and interested members of the public. All are invited to learn more about community policing.

Guest speaker MacDonald graduated magna cum laude from Saint Leo University in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in criminology. He began his career in law enforcement with the St. Petersburg Police Department in 1991 as a patrol officer. He went on to become a sergeant, serving as a field training supervisor and the Community Policing sergeant for the District 2 area of the city. He rose to the rank of major and served as the commander of the Uniform Support Division.

McDonald was nominated for the St. Petersburg Police Department Police Officer of the Year in 1997 and 2002. During his tenure in the Community Policing Unit, MacDonald initiated and directed a myriad of problem-solving projects involving landlord training and effective responses to problem rental properties, and served as an adjunct instructor for the Florida Regional Community Policing Institute (RCPI) at St. Petersburg College. In 2007, he led an effort to develop the curriculum, lesson plan, and eventual instruction of the entire police department.

Join Saint Leo University at its Savannah Education Center, 325 W. Montgomery Crossroads, Savannah GA 31406, to learn more about community policing.

To attend, please RSVP to savannah@saintleo.edu. For more information, call (912) 352-8331.

COVID protocols: Masks will be required by all individuals while indoors. This guidance is required regardless of whether the individual is vaccinated.

About Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University is one of the largest Catholic universities in the nation, offering 62 degree programs to more than 15,800 students each year. Founded in 1889 by Benedictine monks and sisters, the private, nonprofit university is known for providing a values-based education to learners of all backgrounds and ages in the liberal arts tradition. Saint Leo is regionally accredited and offers a residential campus in the Tampa Bay region of Florida, 16 education centers in five states, and an online program for students anywhere. The university is home to more than 100,000 alumni. Learn more at saintleo.edu.