St. Louis Park Native Leads Public Safety Students on Trip to the UK

Saint Louis Park native Lora Setter recently returned from a weeklong trip to the United Kingdom with 12 of her students in the public safety administration graduate program at the Twin Cities Campus of Saint Mary’s University.  Setter, director of the public safety administration program at Saint Mary’s, planned and facilitated the trip.

The purpose of the trip was to get students out of their comfort zones and experience policing in another country.  While there, the Saint Mary’s group met with people in all facets of the Northamptonshire Police department, from the lowest-ranking constables to Sir Hugh Orde, the United Kingdom’s highest-ranking law enforcement official (see photo).  The trip was made possible through a partnership between Saint Mary’s University and the Northamptonshire Police.

“This trip was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Katie Blackwell, Saint Mary’s student and sergeant of the Minneapolis Police Department.  “The valuable information I learned has changed me as a leader and challenged me to broaden my horizons and think of the bigger picture in every situation.”

Students enjoyed comparing law enforcement in the United States and the United Kingdom.  For example, U.K. police officers (“bobbies”) generally do not carry weapons.  Only a very small number of officers are allowed to carry weapons after undergoing extensive training.  Students were also impressed with the level of information sharing and collaboration among agencies in the U.K.

“One of our teaching philosophies of Saint Mary’s is to give students opportunities to expand their perspectives of their chosen careers,” said Lora Setter, director of the public safety administration program at Saint Mary’s.  “This was an important trip for the students in terms of their career development, as our program prepares students to lead and manage public safety organizations.”

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a private, Lasallian Catholic institution offering comprehensive undergraduate and graduate programs.  Approximately 4,300 students are enrolled in the Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs, which offers 60 certificate, bachelor degree completion, master degree, and specialist and doctoral programs.  About 1,400 students are enrolled in the residential undergraduate College at the Winona campus, established in 1912.  The university delivers education to its adult learners through campuses in Minneapolis, Winona and Nairobi, Kenya; centers in Apple Valley, Rochester, Oakdale, and Minnetonka; and at numerous other locations in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Jamaica.  Saint Mary’s is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org.