Crime Analysis Student Learns Essentials of Law Enforcement with BUPD
Fundamental to its character, BU’s Metropolitan College places a premium on experiential learning and hands-on lessons you can apply immediately on the job. Sometimes this experience is earned in the classroom, but at others it comes in the field—even in our own backyard.
As a Master of Science in Criminal Justice with concentration in Crime Analysis candidate, Celia “Cece” Carl is interested in a career in law enforcement. To get a jump on her professional future, she was hired by the Boston University Police Department as a graduate research assistant.
“I support research and policy initiatives within the department,” Carl recently said of her role.
Cece Carl is a participant in the BUPD’s newly established assistantship program. In her position, Carl was charged with completing key, high-value projects, as well as ones that aligned with her crime analysis area of focus. “Many of my tasks involve data analysis, research, and strategic planning,” she attested. “My work closely aligned with my courses.”
It wasn’t long before Carl was using tools she’d been trained on in the classroom on the job.
“I was given the task of analyzing different crime trends on campus,” she said. “Using [the data visualization software] Power BI, I examined crime trends to identify patterns. This helped me strengthen my Power BI proficiency, data analysis, and visualization skills.”
For her hard work, Carl earned the superlative praise of her supervisors.
“Celia has been a wonderful addition to the department during her time as a graduate student assistant,” said BUPD Lt. Dan Healy. “She was able to hit the ground running and accomplished so much in a short time.”
“We were fortunate to have had Cece join us last fall,” agreed Boston University Police Chief Robert Lowe. “Her most significant contribution [was] adding a student’s perspective to administrative and operational efforts to keep our community safe.”
Carl’s position was developed through a partnership with BU MET and BUPD, in an effort to offer graduate students the opportunity to gain experience in law enforcement administration. It was designed to support the department’s 30×30 Initiative, which aims to recruit and retain more women into police work. Graduate students in this position contribute the department in many important and tangible ways, with responsibilities that include conducting research, analyzing departmental policies, collecting and reporting data, and engaging with students and staff.
“A graduate worker, such as Celia, develops a strong set of skills that will easily translate to other positions in the criminal justice field,” said Lt. Healy. “She’s learned how to present data in a clear and effective manner, complete policy reviews, and communicate insights.”
Lt. Healy (MET’23), who himself is a graduate of MET’s Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice program and a current master’s student, sees a strong correlation between the MSCJ program and his day-to-day responsibilities. “There’s a strong connection between the coursework in BU’s Criminal Justice programs and the work I do at BUPD,” he said. Responsible for all administrative and budgeting tasks for the department, Healy oversees crime reporting, Clery Act compliance, and as a member of the Command Staff, gets to help shape department policy.
“The program lays the groundwork with theory and sharpens the skills to think critically and effectively. I’m grateful to BU and the faculty at MET for providing an academic foundation for my approach to policing. It has inspired a great deal of confidence in my work,” he said.
Cece Carl worked on a host of important projects during her short time with BUPD. As part of the 30×30 endeavor, she drew from in-house research to restructure job postings such that they could draw more high-quality candidates. “Changes in the job posting included transparency about personal and career benefits, the day-to-day activities of a BUPD officer, specialized units, training opportunities, and a blurb demonstrating BUPD’s commitment to growth and inclusion,” she explained.
Additionally, she worked with Lt. Healy on the weekly crime logs, where she was tasked with developing a public-facing report, which required an automated connection to the department’s data server. Carl also planned the Sexual Assault Prevention Fair, held April 9, 2025.
“Another large data-set project [we completed] focused on an analysis of police details and special assignments, which has given us insight into financial planning and resource allocation,” Lt. Healy said. “This project gave Celia an opportunity to again showcase those data skills but also gain some insight into the administrative side of policing and how decisions are made to balance public safety needs with budget constraints.”
As Carl sees it, the position only confirmed her interest in the crime analysis field.
“Through data-driven analysis projects, working on community engagement projects, and 30×30 implementation, I have gained a deeper understanding of how data can drive decision-making and improve public safety initiatives,” she said. “This assistantship has helped me narrow my career goals in crime analysis and law enforcement, steering me towards roles involving data-driven decision-making and improving public safety.”
“We are grateful to Dean Tanya Zlateva and Assistant Professor Shea Cronin for their leadership in creating opportunities for Metropolitan College students to engage with the Boston University Police Department,” said Chief Lowe. “The graduate student employment partnership is a part of our recruitment strategy that offers a pathway to full-time employment at our police department while also providing students with invaluable real-world public safety experience.”
Lt. Healy concurred.
“I just want to say what a fantastic partnership this has been, how productive the work has been, and what a great fit Celia has been with the department,” he said. “Everyone in the station [was] very sorry to see her go at the end of the semester.”
For her part, Cece Carl feels the partnership was a fruitful one.
“This role has given me valuable insight into law enforcement operations, strengthening my research, data analysis, and policy review skills,” Carl said. “It has also given me direct experience in community engagement and police department accreditation, both of which play essential roles in modern policing.”
To learn more about Criminal Justice programs at BU’s Metropolitan College, visit our website.