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The University of Tampa’s long-standing relationship with the Tampa Police Department has fueled a new formal partnership that will give UTampa graduates a head start into the TPD police academy. This is the first partnership of its kind between TPD and a university in Tampa, and another UTampa initiative to help develop Tampa’s workforce and provide pathways from classroom to career.

The partnership will provide qualified UTampa students an expedited opportunity to become Tampa police officers and serve the city of Tampa. Eligible UTampa seniors majoring or minoring in criminology and criminal justice will spend their last semester of classes attending the TPD police academy full-time. Their academy tuition will be paid for through a TPD scholarship, and they will be hired as full-time city employees.

At the same time, the students will receive UTampa credits as part of a new practicum course that will count as part of their criminology and criminal justice degree and their overall credit total. 

Upon completion of the semester, they would graduate from UTampa. Then, upon completion of the police academy, they would be hired as TPD officers. 

“TPD approached us about this partnership after seeing it in other locations,” said Carly Hilinski-Rosick, department chair and professor of criminology and criminal justice. “This allows graduating seniors to get a four-month head start if they want to work for TPD and have a job the day they finish the academy.”

TPD Chief Lee Bercaw said that this partnership represents an investment in the future of policing in Tampa. “By working alongside the University of Tampa, we're creating a direct path for students begin their law enforcement journey with the Tampa Police Department. We're proud to welcome the next generation of officers who uphold our mission of making Tampa safer, together.”

Holley Tankersley, dean of the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education, added that she is pleased UTampa is leading the way in this partnership, which is the first of its kind in Tampa.  

“This is a great example of UTampa and TPD working together to develop highly educated, community-minded professionals to serve the Tampa Bay region,” Tankersley said. “This partnership will yield great benefits for the city of Tampa and UTampa students for years to come.”

The next scholarship police academy begins in January 2027, and six UTampa students have applied. Between now and January, they will undergo a physical fitness test, oral panel interview, psychological testing, a polygraph test, and a thorough background check. If they successfully pass all those tests and have an acceptable background check, they will begin the police academy in January 2027, graduate from UTampa in May 2027, and the academy in July 2027.

In the future, the program may be offered to students in other majors.

For more information, contact Hilinski-Rosick at (813) 257-3563 or chilinskirosick@ut.edu.