Whitpain Township Police Chief Kenneth Lawson, ’82, stands outside the Health Sciences Center on the Blue Bell Campus of Montgomery County Community College. Lawson credits his education at MCCC for his success in his career as a police officer. Photo by Eric Devlin
Whitpain Township Police Chief Kenneth Lawson, ’82, said the educational foundation he received as a student at Montgomery County Community College more than four decades ago, helped him get to where he is today in his career.
“If I hadn’t gone to Montco,” he said, “I never would have made it here.”
After graduating from Upper Dublin High School in 1980, Lawson said he was an average student and unsure what to do with his life.
“I knew I wanted to be a police officer,” he said. “I wanted to help people and make a difference in the community. I felt a police officer was the best way to do that.”
Unfortunately, at the time, Lawson said police department applicants needed to be 21 years old. At 18, his plan was to work at another job for three years until he was old enough to apply.
“My father, seeing a hole in that plan, suggested I try community college,” said Lawson. “I reminded him I was not a good student and college wasn’t for me. He urged me to give it a try.”
Lawson, who has been a police officer for more than 40 years, including 10 years as chief at Whitpain, enrolled at the College and quickly realized what a great opportunity he had before him. He majored in police science (now Criminal Justice) and enjoyed the ability to pick his own schedule, allowing him to work nights and still make it to class the next morning.
“It changed my life,” he said. “I started getting into the classes and enjoyed the freedom. Meeting people from all walks of life in their 30s, 40s and 50s. It was different from the regimented high school schedule.”
He also remembered the impact faculty members had on him.
“The faculty were amazing,” he said. “So many of them worked in the field and talked about their careers.”
They inspired a drive for learning in him and he became a model student as a result, regularly earning As and Bs on assignments.
“I wanted to do it; I was passionate about it,” he said. “Montco changed my life. It set the course.”
One faculty member in particular stood out to him. Toward the end of his academic career at MCCC, Lawson approached the late Criminal Justice Professor James E. Carroll, a retired FBI agent, and told him he was unsure about his life direction post-graduation. Carroll saw great potential in Lawson and told him to apply to West Chester University (a four-year transfer partner school) into its Criminal Justice program. He helped him fill out the application and also showed him how to apply for financial aid.
“I was accepted to West Chester, and I excelled in college the rest of the time,” said Lawson. He graduated in 1984. A year later, he was hired by Whitpain and quickly rose through the ranks.
“The police department tests were easy all because of the foundation laid at Montco,” he said. “It was easy because of the work I did in college.”
Today, Lawson works to employ the next generation of police officers. He said he’s happy to give back to the College that helped him get on the road to success.
“I tell people who want to be police officers, go to the community college,” he said. “Always get your education and get a college degree. Montco is a great first step.”