Patrick Oliver, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice | Cedarville University
Cedarville, OH, UNITED STATES
Dr. Oliver serves as Director of the Criminal Justice Program.
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Biography
Professor Oliver serves as Director of the Criminal Justice Program. Prior to coming to Cedarville in 2005, he served for 27 years in law enforcement, including as Chief of Police in the cities of Fairborn, Grandview Heights, and Cleveland, Ohio, and as Ranger Chief of Cleveland Metropolitan Parks. He also spent 11 years as a trooper with the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Professor Oliver serves as a Crown Financial Ministries budget coach and seminar instructor, as well as being a consultant and trainer for the International Association of Chiefs of Police and Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police.
Industry Expertise (2)
Research
Education/Learning
Areas of Expertise (6)
Community-based Policing
Improper / Proper Use of Force
Recruiting
Hiring
Retaining Police Officers
Biased-based Policing
Education (3)
Antioch University: Ph.D., Leadership and Change
Baldwin Wallace College: M.B.A.
Baldwin Wallace College: B.A., Criminal Justice
Media Appearances (5)
Protecting our Students in School
WDTN TV tv
2018-05-18
Patrick Oliver joined WDTN TV to discuss the protection of our students in school.
Expert Comments on Police Work
WHIO TV tv
2018-05-04
Patrick Oliver joined WHIO TV to comment on police work and the jobs they do.
Can diverse police departments ease community tension?
PBS News Hour online
2016-08-22
"Diversity, especially in leadership, can improve problem-solving and increase innovation, said Patrick Oliver, who runs a criminal justice program at Cedarville University, in Ohio, and worked in law enforcement for 27 years. Diversity at the top also can prevent a culture of racial bias. Managers set expectations and policies, and supervise officers, Oliver said..."
Cedarville prof, former police chief reacts to Dallas shooting
WHIO online
2016-08-12
"Five police officers were killed and seven more were wounded Thursday night in Dallas after a sniper open fire during protests against police violence. Two civilians also were injured in the attack. Texas law enforcement officials have identified the slain suspect as Micah Johnson, 25. Cedarville University professor Patrick Oliver, a former police chief, said Friday morning to News Center 7’s John Bedell that 'we’re at the highest degree of tension between law enforcement and a segment of the minority community, particularly African Americans, over police intervention.' Oliver — who spent nearly 28 years in law enforcement, including 16 years as a police chief — said the issue in question is 'police legitimacy...'"
3 questions with former police chief Patrick Oliver
myDayton Daily News online
2015-08-03
"When the media wants to make sense of a police shooting, they increasingly turn to a soft-spoken professor at Cedarville University. We at the Dayton Daily News probably turn to Patrick Oliver, associate professor of criminal justice, as much as anyone. But viewers have seen Oliver on CNN and elsewhere, talking about events from Ferguson, Mo. to Beavercreek..."
Articles (3)
Managing interoperable communications
Law and Order2013 Every local law enforcement agency must plan for communications interoperability to effectively manage an emergency within their jurisdiction. What is the “best practices” way for a local jurisdiction to effectively address the challenges of public safety communications interoperability? The goal of interoperability is to facilitate effective communication among various agencies in an emergency situation. One challenge in establishing interoperability is the decentralized nature of law enforcement in the United States. Most critical infrastructure is made up of local agencies, meaning infrastructure differs in each city and the federal government will not get involved in an emergency situation until it is asked to do so. Four factors inhibit agencies from communicating: 1) incompatible communications technology, 2) limited planning in updating and incorporating communications technology, 3) limited and fragmented radio spectrums, and 4) lack of coordination and cooperation between agencies.
Entry level assessment center (ELAC) predictors for success as law enforcement officers: a pilot study
National Social Science Journal2013 Our present study undertakes an appraisal of a program designed to predict success in future law enforcement officers. We utilized a variety of both methods as well as modalities, and data was collected at various cross-sections of time. Our sample consisted mostly of Caucasian police officer hires, due to the nature of the available, although it included minority officers from three cultural backgrounds. As a pilot study, we utilized one time period as the basis for appraising the criterion for success, due to the grant requirement and need to report initial results. Nonetheless, we consider this a pilot study, with 80 tracking the officers in subsequent years as a possibility for future research as part of an ongoing, longitudinal project.
Challenges & recommendations for the aspiring women police leaders
Law and Order2012 Women in law enforcement bring talent, intelligence and ability to the policing profession. Not every woman is a leader, but every woman can lead within her area of responsibility or influence. The challenges of the profession have never been greater, therefore now is the time for women police leaders of all ranks and positions to bring new ideas and strategies to improve the quality of the law enforcement profession. Leadership means bringing both change and unity. Leadership is an intangible quality, yet we know it when we have experienced it. In spite of the multitude concepts, leadership generally 1) involves a process; 2) involves influence; 3) occurs in a group context; and involves goal attainment. Leadership is not bound by rank or position; instead, it involves certain traits, including flexibility, inner thought, inspiration, and the courage to take risks. The women who paved the way for females in policing used their feminine personality strengths and skills in leadership to better their professions. Many of the women in the history of policing hold “first” positions, such as the first female agent, or first female team member. Women continue to expand their roles and assignments in law enforcement. Even though these “first” women do not all hold management positions, they all have the potential for leadership in law enforcement.
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