Scholarship Fund Aims At Diversity In Chesco Law Enforcement

WEST CHESTER, PA — A meeting of Chester County's sheriff with community leaders led to the formation of a scholarship to help diversify Chester County's law enforcement, creating a scholarship to pay for police academy training.

The Committee for PA Act 120 Certification Scholarship named Chester County resident Bakari Green Jr. the first recipient of the scholarship. Green will attend the Delaware County Community College Municipal Police Academy.

Green graduated from Coatesville Area Senior High School and West Chester University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. He said he grew up in an environment where he saw people struggling with drugs and he witnessed the problems drugs caused.

"I want to help people and to see better outcomes," said Green. "Police, regardless of color, are here to help. During this Black Lives Matter era, I want to be a good example of positive change."

Financial support for the scholarship comes from The Lasko Family Foundation, with administrative support from JusticeRain INC, a West Chester non-profit organization that works locally against broad issues of injustice, Chester County Information Officer Becky Brain said.

The need for such a scholarship was expressed by Chester County Sheriff Fredda Maddox at a meeting of community members.

"All too often when Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies try to hire Black and Brown police, there aren’t candidates who have been trained and certified under Pennsylvania’s Act 120,” said Maddox.

"They have college degrees and stellar credentials, but some don’t realize that they need specific training and certification to serve. Other times, after paying for college, graduates don’t have additional funds to attend a municipal police academy," Maddox explained.

A Committee for PA Act 120 Certification Scholarship formed after the community meetings, advised by a group known as "the Elders," Maddox said. Committee members were Rabbi Dr. Maury Hoberman, Abdul Mughees, Chief Deputy Kevin Dykes, Carol Metzker of the Chester County Sheriff’s Office, and Maddox. The committee took on the challenge of establishing a scholarship in two months.

Input and support also came from a team at Delaware County Community College, the Lasko Family Foundation, and JusticeRain, INC.

Two additional scholarships are available for eligible students of color to attend the College’s Municipal Police Academy training beginning July 2021.

Anyone interested in applying has until April 29, and should request information at committeeforact120scholarship@gmail.com, a county news release said.