Evidence- Based Policing (EBP) in Small and Mid-Sized Agencies

Edward Tjaden has served as the Chief of Police in York, Nebraska since 2017.  He utilizes his 26 years of varied law enforcement experience to continually shed light upon, and offer solutions for small and rural policing challenges.  His primary focus as Chief has been change management and positive culture building.  He has a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management, is a graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety’s School of Police Staff and Command, recently began his PhD program in Public Administration, and is an alumni member of the National Institute of Justice’s LEADS Scholars program. Chief Tjaden is currently in the beginning stages of a policing leadership research project with Dr. Justin Nix at the University of Nebraska, Omaha. They are studying the attitudes of officers and administration in small agencies and how they correlate to different leadership styles – evaluating how different styles could affect officer satisfaction and department retention/morale efforts. Chief Tjaden’s commitment to evidence-based policing has been primarily foundational, communicating with other small agency executives about what EVP really is and the value it offers to smaller departments. 

David Cefalu began his law enforcement career with the Wauwatosa Police Department in 2006. He currently serves in the Personnel and Training Division, where he is tasked with analyzing, evaluating, and implementing processes for recruiting and selecting police officers. David is a 15-year veteran of the department’s Special Response Team and is a Defense and Arrest Tactics and Professional Communications instructor. He has served as an officer in the Patrol Division and the Special Operations Group, where he investigated violent crimes and drug trafficking.
David is also a Major in the Wisconsin Air National Guard with 21 years of service ranging from Security Forces to Command and Control. He is a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater pursuing a Doctorate of Business Administration in Management. David holds a Masters of Business Administration in Public Administration from Concordia University-Wisconsin and a Bachelors of Criminal Justice from Troy University. His research interests include personnel recruitment, selection, and retention. His dissertation focuses on ethics, officer wellness, and the reintegration of military veterans.

David Rozek, PhD, ABPP, is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and the Senior Scientific Advisor for Face the Fight. He received his PhD from the University of Notre Dame and completed his residency at the Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Across his academic and leadership roles, he has led the development and implementation of evidence-based mental health, suicide prevention, and organizational wellness initiatives within high-stress systems, including healthcare, public safety, and military-affiliated organizations. 

Dr. Rozek’s research and clinical expertise center on cognitive and behavioral therapies for suicide, depression, and PTSD, with a particular emphasis on translating clinical science into sustainable organizational practices that support workforce wellbeing, resilience, and performance. He regularly provides training and consultation to clinicians, medical professionals, peer support specialists, leaders, and mental health allies on best practices for supporting individuals at risk for suicide and for strengthening organizational cultures that promote psychological health. His work integrates clinical intervention, training, and systems-level approaches to improve both individual outcomes and organizational functioning. 

Gabrielle O'Keefe is a Research Public Health Analyst at RTI International, where she contributes to various research projects and initiatives. Her work includes examining the influence of pretrial conditions, changes in crime rates post-COVID, and differences in violent crime trends between PSN and non-PSN cities. O'Keefe's research is part of a broader effort to understand and improve the well-being of police officers through Officer Wellness Centers.