Charter Oak State College Alumni Spotlight
Hello Charter Oak State College Alum --

We're sending along another interesting profile that focuses on the endeavors and achievements of a fellow Charter Oak graduate.  We hope you enjoy Jack DaLuz's story!



Commander Jack DaLuz

Commander Jack DaLuz, '98
 
Charter Oak alum and Aurora (Colorado) Police Department Commander Jack DaLuz describes his 29-year career in law enforcement this way:

“Law enforcement is a fascinating, unlimited career that exposes a person to the very best and the very worst of society,” said Commander DaLuz, who graduated in 1998. “Some days, it’s a free ticket to the greatest show on earth. Other days are challenging beyond description. Every day, I get to work with true heroes.”

Commander DaLuz credits his degree from Charter Oak for giving him the edge he needed to promote through the ranks in the police force. After earning an Associate’s degree from Bristol Community College, he went on to attend several other colleges, earning miscellaneous credits along the way, but never finished his Bachelor’s degree. “It always felt like unfinished business,” he said, “and Charter Oak gave me the opportunity to maximize my earned credits and to complete a BS degree in a sensible, timely and affordable way.”

After completing his degree, Commander DaLuz was rapidly promoted, and throughout his career he has served as Detective, Recruiter, Patrol Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant, Administrative Lieutenant, Captain, and, in 2008, was promoted to Commander. In that role, he has managed the Major Crimes Investigation Bureau responsible for the Homicide Unit, Economic Crimes Unit, Crimes Against Children Unit, Victims Services Unit and the Department Crime Lab.

Commander DaLuz, who went on to earn his Master’s degree in Management from Webster University, was selected to attend the FBI National Academy in 2006, completing the Leadership Program at Quantico, VA. He has received the Aurora Police Department’s highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, and in 2002, he was given the Life Saving Award for rescuing a 4-month-old who had been left unattended in a bathtub – a moment he describes as his proudest.

“It was a remarkable moment to see the child breathe again after I used CPR,” he said. “That child had been under water for nearly 9 minutes and survived.”    

Building a strong relationship between the police and community of Aurora was the focus of a series of community forum workshops in 2007. “Like so many other cities, there was unrest in our community concerning relations between the police and minority community members. We made a decision to host a weeklong series of community forums between police officers and citizens, members of the community of faith and others…we did so over a shared meal, and officers sat at tables to discuss the topic of race in America and Aurora,” said Commander DaLuz. The Department continues to meet monthly at a Key Community Response Team meetings attended by citizens and community leaders.

Commander DaLuz considers himself Charter Oak’s best recruiter in Colorado, and said that every police officer he meets that has not completed their degree becomes a potential recruit. He believes every Charter Oak graduate should see themselves as a college recruiter.

“Charter Oak just makes sense for busy adults to earn a needed degree,” said Commander DaLuz, who enjoys travel and fly fishing on the Big Thompson River in Estes Park, Colorado, where he and his wife own a mountain home and where he also works part-time as a guide. “It’s not that it’s easier to do so, because it’s not. Charter Oak customizes programs to the customer…the active adult who wants to complete a degree in a no-nonsense way.”

“It’s encouraging to hear Commander DaLuz join many of his peers in talking about the benefits of a Charter Oak education in their law enforcement career,” said Shawn Holliday, Public Safety Enrollment Counselor at Charter Oak.  “The flexibility of the college has always been a major benefit to law enforcement personnel.  In fact, we continue to seek feedback and input from professionals like Jack to make our relatively new Public Safety Administration program as current and relevant as possible.”
 
 
(NOTE: If you are interested in sharing your success story with us, please contact Amanda Guay at the College. She can be reached via e-mail: aguay@charteroak.edu. We'd love to hear from you!)



A reminder that membership in the Charter Oak Alumni Association brings with it a variety of benefits. If you are interested in working with the Association’s board and/or committees, contact Nancy Taylor. Her e-mail address is nataylor@charteroak.edu.

The Charter Oak State College Foundation provides important scholarship assistance to students in need. Please support the Foundation’s efforts to the extent of which you’re able through a tax-deductible contribution.


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