Contact:
JoAnn Loviglio
215.440.5546
jloviglio@centercityphila.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Community Oriented Public Safety program designed to attract young graduates of PPD’s Police Explorer program who are too young to join the police force

PHILADELPHIA (October 2, 2025) — Center City District (CCD) and Allied Universal Security Services have launched a new recruitment and training initiative designed to attract cadets from the Philadelphia Police Department’s Police Explorer program, mostly first-time job seekers who want to pursue law enforcement careers.

The Community Oriented Public Safety (COPS) program was introduced this spring in partnership with the Police Explorers program as a way to bridge the employment gap for Police Explorer graduates who are not yet 21, the minimum age for a Philadelphia police officer.

The program places those young cadets — many of whom are recent high school graduates — into roles with Center City District’s bicycle safety patrol. These positions, jointly managed by CCD and Allied, provide real-world experience to Police Explorer program graduates who are too young to begin careers with the PPD.

“We came up with the idea to address a need for people coming out of the Police Explorers, many of them coming out of high school, who are interested in law enforcement careers but they need jobs now – and you can’t become a police officer in Philadelphia until you’re 21,” said John Crichton, CCD senior manager of public safety operations. “By attracting mission-driven individuals from the Police Explorers program, this initiative aims to address employee turnover challenges, cultivate a dedicated talent pipeline, and build a professional workforce committed to community safety and public service.”

The Community Oriented Public Safety program is designed to be an ideal employment option for 18- to 20-year-olds to gain experience in their chosen career until they’re old enough for the PPD. Conversely, the program benefits CCD’s retention efforts by attracting applicants who are interested in a public safety career and are therefore more likely to stay longer.

“With this program, we might have these folks for two or three years, instead of having constant turnover,” Crichton said. “They don’t need to be sold on the importance of public safety. They’re on time, they’re professional, they’re enthusiastic.”

Allied has hired six Police Explorers graduates for the CCD Safety Patrol. Eventually, the goal is to have all of CCD’s Safety Patrol staff coming from the Police Explorers program, said Jason Eddings, Allied Universal account manager.

Notable outcomes since the program launched in March include one cadet being promoted to a supervisory position for their demonstrated leadership skills, another training for a Command Center dispatch position due to excellent communication abilities, and a third currently in the hiring process with the Philadelphia Police Department. 

“My roles at Allied Universal, the Police Explorer program, and the Center City District COPS program have collectively strengthened my ability to manage high-pressure situations, resolve conflicts peacefully, and build lasting community relationships,” said Carlos D. Laureano, a recent COPS program hire. “Working within Center City District operations also gave me valuable insight into how local government functions and how policies are implemented to serve the public.

“Together, these experiences have not only prepared me for a career in law enforcement but have also reinforced my dedication to public service,” he said.

CCD launched its bicycle patrol in 2020. The patrols, which operate within the District seven days a week, expand upon services CCD has provided for more than three decades, including sidewalk cleaners and community service representatives (CSRs).

Like CSRs, the bicycle safety patrols are unarmed, act as a deterrent and function like a professional town watch, communicating regularly and working in partnership with police as well as security personnel employed by many Center City buildings.

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Center City District, in partnership with property owners and downtown stakeholders, is the steward and advocate for a clean, safe, and thriving Center City Philadelphia. Find us at centercityphila.org.