2022 Leadership in Law Enforcement Scholarship Recipients
SSC is committed to fostering a culture of education and training in our schools, workplaces, and communities. We believe our leadership should be representative of the communities they serve. Following the unrest in June of 2020, we sat down to consider how we could directly impact our communities and contribute to creating positive change. In 2021, we launched the SSC Leadership in Law Enforcement Scholarship. Each year, four $2,500 scholarships are awarded to facilitate education or training for minorities in their career ascension to command or leadership positions within law enforcement.
This year, we had an opportunity to interview two scholarship recipients and learn what this scholarship means to them in terms of furthering their education and careers.
R.N.
R.N. was born in India. His family moved to the United States in the 1980s, seeking better opportunities. After living in several states, they landed in Texas, where R.N. continues to live with his own family.
Prior to 9/11, R.N. was in college and pursuing a career outside of law enforcement. When 9/11 took place, he had a fire lit in him to be a part of making change. With a wife and a newborn at home, he focused his efforts on making an impact at a local level and joined the police academy.
After graduating in 2002, R.N. began his career as a patrol officer. Two years later, he moved towns and created roots at a new department. It was here that his career flourished. At this time, he held roles ranging from patrol, to investigations, to narcotics and SWAT.
R.N.’s most recent career step has been as a School Resource Officer. R.N. has had an impressive career in law enforcement so far, but he isn’t done yet. He is currently in school working towards a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration, with plans to get his master’s and become Chief of Police.
“I have been influenced by a lot of great people throughout my years. I have taken a lot from what people have taught me, and I want to give back. My goal is to be a part of a progressive department that leads by example, and I want to utilize what other great leaders have taught me to run an honest and dependable department.”
Glasco Bender
Glasco Bender is a 15-year veteran of the United States Airforce. While he was in the military, he began college courses to pursue a degree in information technology, but quickly realized that it wasn’t his calling. In addition to the Airforce, Glasco worked for the Bureau of Prisons in Beaumont, Texas. He worked in intake for new inmates being released to halfway houses.
Glasco recalled working closely with one inmate who had just been sentenced:
“He said that on the day that he got sentenced, he was paying attention to what the judge said. The judge said he was giving him 120 months, and the man didn’t fully understand the weight of that sentence until he returned to the holding cell and did the math.”
Glasco’s experiences in the military and at the Bureau of Prisons sparked a recognition that he wanted to do more to help people. He is currently in school and pursuing a career as a case manager, with the goal of working with juveniles in Charlotte, NC.
“I have always been the kind of person that likes to help people. I want to let juveniles know that the actions that they take in 5 minutes can change the rest of their lives. I hate to see juveniles sent away for life or to have to do 30 years. By the time they get out, they are so far behind that they end up lost in society. I believe it starts early, helping kids at risk become productive members of society so they stay out of jail.”
Our two additional scholarships were awarded to Cindy P. (Texas) and Hector L. (Washington). Congratulations to our 2022 Leadership in Law Enforcement Scholarship recipients. We are excited to see the impact you continue to make in your communities.
For information on applications for the 2023 Leadership in Law Enforcement Scholarships, please keep an eye on our Scholarship Page and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.