Sekou Kinebrew, ’94, never planned on becoming a police officer, and he certainly never imagined that he would eventually be leading the police district in the Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood where he grew up.

As an economics major at La Salle, Kinebrew’s original plan was to graduate and maybe move to New York and work on Wall Street.

“But I’ve always hated bullies,” he said.

Having witnessed and experienced incidents of bullying during his time as a student at Masterman High School, Kinebrew said he felt led to apply to the Philadelphia Police Academy because he wanted to help protect others from being bullied and from becoming victims of crime.

“For me, it was always this thing about bullies that said this is the time to be on the team that stands against the people that bully and to help the people they would victimize.”

After 19 years of service in various roles in the Philadelphia Police Department, Kinebrew was recently appointed Captain of the 14th Police District; a role he says La Salle helped prepare him to tackle.

“Going into such a great liberal arts program after high school sharpened my social skills and broadened my critical thinking. I also attribute my ability to organize, meet deadlines, and write well to my time at La Salle,” he said. “It definitely prepared me for this job and really did get me ahead of the curve.”

In his position, Kinebrew oversees nearly 200 police officers who serve residents in the Germantown, West Oak Lane, and Chestnut Hill communities. The 14th district— the second largest police district in Philadelphia—encompasses a diverse population of working poor, middle-class, and upper-class families. Yet Kinebrew believes there are a few simple tips that residents in any Philadelphia neighborhood can embrace to stay safe:

• Be alert and aware of your surroundings. Situational awareness is so important. You see people walking with their heads down, with headphones on, and they are not aware of their surroundings. It is important to be aware; not only of where you are, but of where things are on your body—like a cell phone sticking out of your pocket.
• Make sure your house does not stand out as a target. Shrubs, trees, and minimal lighting create easy hiding places for criminals.
• Get to know your neighbors. Your neighbors often know better than anyone what looks normal and what stands out as odd. Communicate with them. Build relationships with them so you can look out for one another.