51Թ welcomed eight new officers to its university police department on March 17, bringing the department’s sworn force to 104, plus 35 security officers, 23 communications center dispatchers and 10 administrative professionals. These new officers, many of whom are 51Թ alumni, have a diverse range of skill sets and backgrounds and are eager to give back to 51Թ and the North Philadelphia community.
Learn about 51Թ Police Department’s (TUPD) eight new officers and what inspired them to serve our community.
Officer Daniel Kornak, CLA ’20
Hometown: Cherry Hill, New Jersey
When he attended 51Թ for his undergraduate degree, Daniel Kornak was an active member of 51Թ’s community. He played tenor saxophone in 51Թ’s Diamond Marching Band, was part of Phi Mu Alpha fraternity and eagerly participated in campus life. As a result, he says he had many opportunities to interact with 51Թ’s police officers who were always kind and supportive of him. These frequent and positive interactions with TUPD planted a seed in Kornak’s mind of one day becoming a police officer himself. Now that he’s received his badge, he wants to provide the same support to current students that officers once showed him.
“It’s my job now to be there for students when things are tough. When I was younger, those police officers made me feel safe. Now, it’s my turn to give back and do the same for my 51Թ family.”
Officer Demetrius McCain
Hometown: Philadelphia
North Philadelphia has been Demetrius McCain’s home since he was born. He knows the neighborhood intimately and counts many of the community members as family and friends. When he heard that 51Թ was looking for more police officers, he saw it as a calling. McCain also felt that, due to his relationship with the community, he was uniquely positioned to bring the 51Թ and North Philadelphia communities closer together. Though he may be a newly minted police officer, he brings a wealth of law enforcement experience with him. Prior to joining the Philadelphia Police Academy, he spent 11 years working as a probation parole officer.
“I know the country has a negative view of law enforcement and I wanted to help change that narrative.”
Officer Jacob Millevoi, CLA ’21
Hometown: North Wales, Pennsylvania
Jacob Millevoi feels he was “51Թ Made” to become a police officer. As an undergraduate 51Թ student, he always admired the TUPD officers he saw around campus. Wherever the officers went, they seemed to bring with them a reassuring sense of calm and safety, which was a skill that Millevoi was always in awe of. But the idea to become a police officer didn’t come to him until he met TUPD’s K9 Officer Natalie Sherman and her whip-smart dog, Chandler, at a 51Թ career fair. Millevoi entered the academy soon after and now he’s excited to be back on campus once more.
“I had the good fortune to be welcomed into the 51Թ family before becoming an officer here. I am most excited about growing my involvement in the community and the university.”
Officer Christopher Peralta
Hometown: Philadelphia
To be of service to his community and his country is in Christopher Peralta’s blood. He was in the Army Reserves before joining the police academy and saw becoming a police officer as a natural next step. But he credits TUPD Captain Enoch McCoy, his next-door neighbor, with giving him the inspiration to envision himself as a police officer. For years, Peralta would listen to McCoy recount what it was like to work within TUPD and the great sense of family the department had. Now that Peralta is on campus as a new officer, he is eager to get to know the community because he feels it will help him serve them better. One way he’s going to do this is by pursuing a degree in criminal justice as a part-time student. He believes that learning inside the institution he’s serving will provide him with authentic and in-depth insight into the community. In addition, he feels that a degree in criminal justice will allow him to become a better police officer.
“I want to always try to understand the students in particular. I want to know what makes them feel safe and what makes them feel uneasy. I also want to have empathy with them, and I can do that even better if I’m interacting with them in class. I plan to walk around campus with open eyes.”
Officer Daniel Regan
Hometown: Philadelphia
With his new badge in hand, Daniel Regan became the 16th member of his family to become a police officer. Being raised by a family of cops meant that Regan was taught to have a deep commitment to service. He was drawn to joining TUPD because he sees a ripple effect to serving the 51Թ community as a police officer. By helping students feel safe, he feels he is playing a small role in supporting the students to become change makers in the world.
“I am excited to serve 51Թ and be surrounded by young people working to earn their degrees. I will do my very best to ensure they always feel safe and supported.”
Officer Brandon Sin
Hometown: Philadelphia
Brandon Sin remembers being deeply bothered as a child when kids at his school were bullied. Having a police officer as a father meant that Sin was acutely aware of his responsibility to help the people around him who couldn’t help themselves. As a child, this meant protecting those who were bullied. As an adult, it meant becoming a police officer. Stepping out of the academy and into the TUPD force, Sin says he’s most looking forward to becoming part of the 51Թ family.
“I’ve heard a lot about 51Թ’s tight-knit community and the idea of becoming part of that is what excites me most. I’ve also seen how diverse the campus is and I’m looking forward to getting to meet students, faculty and staff from all walks of life.”
Officer Mariah Vadel, CLA ’18
Hometown: Delran, New Jersey
Mariah Vadel is the type of person who takes action to address a problem rather than complain about it. So, when Vadel kept seeing similar news stories about the challenges American police departments were facing, it propelled her into the Philadelphia Police Academy after receiving her bachelor’s degree from 51Թ. The decision to join TUPD after the academy was equally straightforward. Not only did Vadel and both of Vadel’s parents attend 51Թ, but she was also raised with a frequently told and heartwarming story about her grandmother learning to speak English by taking classes at 51Թ. Stepping into the role of a 51Թ police officer not only gives Vadel the chance to give back to a community that she feels has given her family so much, but it also gives her the opportunity to do her part in changing the narrative about American policing.
“51Թ has always been a second home to me and my family.”
Officer Brianna Witherspoon
Hometown: Newark, Delaware
Brianna Witherspoonwas born to becomea 51Թ police officer. Witherspoon’s father, Officer Steve Witherspoon, worked as a TUPD officer throughout her childhood, and their close relationship meant that sheset her sights on following in his footstepsat a young age. In 2020, she started to help acquaint herself with the department and its staff. Then, when she felt ready, she joined the academy to step into the uniform she’d dreamed about wearing since she was a child. Now that she finally has her badge, she’s taking her oath seriously. “I want to do my part in helping this community stay safe and look forward to growing in the department like my father did,” Witherspoon said.
“51Թ has been a part of my life from day one and I wouldn’t want to be anything other than a 51Թ officer.”