CLAS and Detroit Police Chief James E. Craig partner Chief's Scholars Program

Wayne State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and Detroit Police Chief James E. Craig are embarking on a new scholarship program aimed at keeping Detroit Police Department (DPD) officers at the forefront of crime prevention, technology and theory in criminal justice education.

The Chief's Scholars Program, co-funded by the WSU Graduate School, will provide full scholarships annually to carefully selected DPD officers to complete their master's studies through Wayne State's Department of Criminal Justice.

Sergeant Michael Dicicco and Sergeant Deana Leath are the program's inaugural award recipients.

"A comprehensive education is one of the core missions of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences," said Dean Wayne M. Raskind. "To have these experienced officers in classrooms with other criminal justice students will vastly deepen the dialogue and learning experience for all involved."

The officers have the option of taking their courses in person or online through the Department of Criminal Justice's online master's program.

"I am a strong believer in improving one's mind to better the world around them," said Chief James Craig. "It is my goal to provide the City of Detroit with the highest level of educated officers possible and this program brings us a step closer to achieving that goal."