Stephen A. Morreale
Stephen A. Morreale (born 1954) is an American criminologist, academic, and retired law enforcement official. He serves as a Professor of Criminal Justice at Worcester State University[1] and hosts The CopDoc Podcast,[2] which focuses on police leadership and innovation.[3] His career spans over 30 years in law enforcement at military, federal, and municipal levels, followed by an academic career in criminal justice education.
Morreale is known for his "pracademic" approach, combining practical law enforcement experience with academic research.[4] He has authored numerous articles on police leadership, organizational change, and criminal justice education, and has interviewed over 150 police leaders and scholars through his podcast.
Education and Career
Morreale earned a Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A.) from Nova Southeastern University in 2002, focusing on leadership styles in law enforcement. He also holds a Master of Public Administration from Golden Gate University (1983) and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from UMass Boston (1981). He began his law enforcement career as a Military Police Officer in the U.S. Army, followed by service with the Dover, New Hampshire Police Department from 1979 to 1983 as a patrol officer and detective.
Federal Law Enforcement Career
Drug Enforcement Administration
Morreale served as a Special Agent and Supervisory Special Agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration from 1983 to 2000. As Principal Investigator, he established the New England Community-Police Partnership (NECP2) through a Department of Justice grant. He conducted training internationally in Colombia, Russia, the Bahamas, and Ireland, and served as a visiting lecturer at the DEA Training Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
Department of Health and Human Services
From 2000 to 2005, Morreale worked with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General as Assistant Special Agent in Charge and Acting Special Agent in Charge. He managed investigative operations involving healthcare fraud, grant fraud, and administrative violations across six New England states.
Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, he led a team of special agents at the World Trade Center site, assisting with personnel escort and recovery efforts. He received a Distinguished Service Award from the Secretary of Health and Human Services for this service.
Academic Career
Worcester State University
Morreale joined Worcester State University in 2007 as a Professor of Criminal Justice and served as Department Chair from 2010 to 2022. His research focuses on executive decision-making, organizational change, leadership development, and criminal justice education.
Other Academic Appointments
He has held visiting and adjunct positions at several institutions:
- Roger Williams University (2002-present) - Justice System Training and Research Institute
- Nichols College (2017-present) - Master of Science in Counterterrorism program
- Pace University (2023-present) - Master of Homeland Security Program
- Liberty University (2023-present) - Program Director, Leadership Institute for Tomorrow's Executives
- Walden University (2002-2023) - Contributing Faculty Member and Doctoral Mentor
Fulbright Scholar Program
In 2012, Morreale was selected for the Fulbright Specialist Program by the U.S. Department of State. He is affiliated with the University of Limerick in Ireland, where he collaborates with the Law School and Garda College on academic assessment and accreditation of training curricula for senior Irish police officers.
In 2022, he chaired a round table symposium at the University of Limerick exploring community safety co-response models in Ireland.[5]
Publications and Research
Books
- Choosing to Lead! (2025) - Kindle Direct Publishing[6]
Book Chapters
- "Socio-political risks and their impact on criminal justice organizations" in Socio-Political Risk Management: Assessing and Managing Global Insecurity (De Gruyter, 2023)[7]
Selected Journal Articles
- "From the Field to Academia: Preparing and Adapting to a Teaching Career" with James E. McCabe and David E. Lambert, Law Enforcement Executive Forum (2018)
- "Elements of Decision-Making in Police Organizations" with Brenda J. Bond, Police Forum (2016)[8]
- "Procedural Justice as a Predictor of Police Legitimacy and Cooperation with the Police" with Angela Workman-Stark, Law Enforcement Executive Forum (2014)[9]
The CopDoc Podcast
In 2020, Morreale created The CopDoc Podcast, which focuses on police leadership and innovation. The podcast features interviews with law enforcement practitioners, academics, and community leaders discussing police services and community relationships. As of 2025, the podcast has produced over 160 episodes and has gained international listenership across 89 countries.
Professional Service
Morreale has served in leadership roles with several professional organizations:
- Past President, Northeastern Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
- Past Chair, Police Section, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (2017-2019)
- Co-founder and Past President, Massachusetts Association of Criminal Justice Education
- Board Member, Municipal Police Institute (2016-present)
- Research Advisory Board Member, American Counterterrorism Targeting & Resilience Institute (2019-present)
He serves as a manuscript reviewer for multiple academic journals including the American Journal of Criminal Justice, Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, and Police Practice and Research.
References
- ↑ "Dr. Stephen A. Morreale". Worcester State University. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ↑ "The CopDoc Podcast | police leadership". The CopDoc Podcast. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
- ↑ Sheehan, N. "Morreale Creates Podcast to Discuss Current Issues in Criminal Justice, Leadership." Worcester State University News. January 29, 2021.
- ↑ Morreale, S. A., Tahiliani, J. R., & McCabe, J. E. (2016). "The Pracademic and Academic in Criminal Justice Education: A Qualitative Analysis." Police Forum, Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.
- ↑ Lacey, A., Cusack, A., O'Shea, B. "Report on a Roundtable Symposium with International Collaborators to Explore the Feasibility of Implementing a Community Safety Co-response Model in Ireland." Policing Authority, November 2022.
- ↑ Morreale, S. A. (2025). Choosing to Lead! Kindle Direct Publishing.
- ↑ Morreale, S. A. (2023). "Socio-Political Risks and their Impact on Criminal Justice Organizations." In K. Engemann, C. Lavery & J. Sheehan (Eds.), Socio-Political Risk Management: Assessing and Managing Global Insecurity (Vol. IV). De Gruyter.
- ↑ Bond, B. J., & Morreale, S. A. (2016). "Elements of Decision-Making in Police Organizations." Police Forum, 26(2).
- ↑ Workman-Stark, A., & Morreale, S. A. (2014). "Procedural Justice as a Predictor of Police Legitimacy and Cooperation with the Police." Law Enforcement Executive Forum, 14(1).
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