Voices from alumni of the Police Executive Programme
Over thirty years, the Police Executive Programme has touched the careers of hundreds of police professionals across more than thirty jurisdictions. We asked some of our former students to reflect on what the programme has meant to them.
“I sat there and thought, ‘Why has no one taught me this before?’. And as policing is about as important a mission as it gets, I thought I'd better do something about it – and have been working to understand what works and what doesn’t ever since – and trying to get others to too.”
— Alex Murray, Founder of the Society of Evidence-Based Policing and Director of PoliceAI
"The MSt in Applied Criminology and Police Management at the University of Cambridge was a defining moment in my professional development. It shaped how I approached and understood modern policing through a clear commitment to evidence, testing and continuous learning. It gave me the confidence to challenge established practice and has influenced my career from specialist policing in PSNI to a strategic national leadership role at the heart of Whitehall. That journey was strengthened by the insight and support of Professor Lawrence Sherman and Dr Heather Strang who helped me bridge the gap between academic acumen and operational reality.
— Zoë McKee, D/Chief Superintendent, Head of Public Protection PSNI
“The MSt didn't just teach me what works in policing — it taught me how to ask better questions of the work I was already doing. I went back to my department not with a set of answers, but with a way of thinking that has shaped every decision I've made as a senior officer since. The MSt programme is unique because of the positive impact it can have on the agency as a whole.”
— Sean Frost, Captain, San Francisco Police Dept, Staff Services Division, MSt 2024
“Through the MSt, I’ve gained a new mindset that has reshaped the way I think about my role in policing. It has empowered me to challenge long-held assumptions, integrate evidence-based decision-making into daily conversations, and share these insights across all levels of my organisation. The programme has transformed my leadership approach, and for that, I am truly grateful.”
— Melissa Wighton, Acting Sergeant, Evidence-Based Policing Unit, London Police Service, Canada
“The lecture room was the only place I’d ever sat between a chief from a US police department, a commander from a Scandinavian capital, and a senior officer from a small English county force, all wrestling with the same problem from very different starting points. The network I built in those two years is one I still pick up the phone to almost weekly.”
— Christopher Gadd, Detective Inspector, Integrated Offender Management, Metropolitan Police Service
“The thesis I ended up doing was on the impact of a values-based education programme in a police recruit training academy, in conjunction also with the University of Queensland. We randomised the recruits, of which we had about 260 at that time, into experimental and control groups when they entered the academy.[...]. The randomised control trial - my Master's thesis - was published in a scientific journal with over 5,000 views. It has also been replicated which is fantastic. Whilst I didn't actually get the outcomes from the training that i wanted, i probably got a better impact from doing the experiment, because i uncovered things that were really important in how we train policy.” Read the full interview here.
— Deborah Platz, Queensland Human Rights Commissioner, APM
“The MSt has provided me with unique and valuable assets, knowledge and experience that have had deep implications on the way I conduct Police Management. I can now apply these leadership skills to generate Public Value, reduce Crime and Crime Harm, and strengthen Trust and Confidence in the Police. The program has given me a world-class update on what works, a valuable network of peers and academics, important insights into implementation and the value of legitimacy, and leadership skills to help me excel in my field.”
— Andreas Lekare, Police Inspector and Manager of Centre of Crime & Global Affairs Analyses, Police Region of Stockholm. Swedish Police Authority