From Patrol to the Classroom
After more than 26 years in law enforcement, Philip Mancini traded a badge for a classroom. Today, he stands at the front of Jessup University’s criminal justice program, drawing on decades of frontline experience to prepare students for careers in public safety and policy.
Mancini’s law enforcement career began with the San Jose Police Department in 1995 before he moved to the Roseville Police Department in 2005. Over the next 15 years, he rose steadily through the ranks, being promoted to sergeant in 2014 and lieutenant in 2017. Along the way, he served in numerous specialized assignments. Still, he made his greatest impact in the Field Training Officer program, where he was known for shaping the department’s next generation of officers.
Teaching, however, was always part of the plan.
“I knew I wanted to teach in some capacity after I retired,” he said. “In law enforcement, I taught at the academy and in a number of areas — defensive tactics, SWAT, firearms. That experience naturally carried over into the classroom.”
At Jessup, Mancini blends academic rigor with firsthand perspective. His lectures and case studies are grounded in real-world scenarios, providing students with a clear understanding of the ethical challenges and policy decisions they will encounter in the field.
Jessup’s criminal justice program, Mancini notes, has undergone significant growth in recent years. “We’ve revamped our curriculum, and much of what we offer rivals coursework at Ivy League institutions,” he said. One course, Procedural Justice and Implicit Bias, has become a cornerstone of the program. “A goal of the criminal justice system is fairness,” Mancini explained. “Understanding the role of bias — especially over the past decade — is critical to achieving that.”
Mancini’s work doesn’t stop at the lectern. He is equally committed to mentoring students and connecting them with professional opportunities. Throughout his career, he has developed a broad network spanning local, state, federal and nonprofit agencies. That network not only brings guest speakers into his classroom, but also opens doors for internships and careers.
“If I don’t know someone in a particular area, I usually know someone who does,” Mancini said. “That’s been instrumental in creating pathways for our students.”
One such pathway is a partnership with the Placer County District Attorney’s Investigations Unit, where six students each year gain hands-on experience in investigative work. The internship, offered in the spring, summer, and fall, exposes students to local law enforcement operations, investigative techniques and the court process from both the prosecution and defense perspectives.
The results speak for themselves. Jessup alumni have gone on to serve in agencies across California, including the Folsom, Citrus Heights, and Ocean Beach Police Departments, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI in Roseville.
For Mancini, it’s all about equipping students to step into a complex and evolving field. By combining academics, mentorship, and real-world experience, he and the Jessup criminal justice program are shaping graduates who are ready to serve with integrity, fairness and purpose.
