LOWELL — With a 40-year career in law enforcement and private security, Kenneth Lavallee, of Chelmsford, is sharing his experiences with the next generation in the field. As an adjunct professor in Middlesex Community College’s Criminal & Social Justice program, he uses case studies, guest speakers and networking opportunities to elevate what his students are learning in the classroom.
“My lived experiences have led me to have a deep understanding of what people in the field go through,” Lavallee said. “When I add a specific story to the content in a lecture, I can see the students perk up and engage with what I’m saying. Something that is realistic and actually occurred makes them understand and appreciate the concept even more.”
At MCC, Lavallee enjoys working with students from various backgrounds, cultures and ages. His goal is to prepare them to work in law enforcement, corrections or the courts, as well as to hone empathy and communication skills, such as critical thinking and problem solving.
Inviting connections he has made throughout his career to speak in his classes, students have heard from a variety of current and former professionals who share their own stories. He has also had individuals come who he knows from working with the Lowell Community Opioid Outreach Program and UTEC, a Lowell-based at-risk youth organization.
“I’m focused on bringing the lessons I’ve learned from what’s happening across the state and country to students and making sure they understand,” Lavallee said. “I try to impress upon them the impact that the opioid epidemic and unrest that has occurred in the last few years will have on them for their entire careers.”
Reading true crime books in high school inspired his interest in the field, leading him to earn a bachelor’s degree from Northeastern University and a master’s from Boston University. The former superintendent of the Lowell Police Department, Lavallee worked as a security specialist/assistant vice president at Enterprise Bank and is now a senior associate/assessor at Parow Consulting & Associates in Chelmsford.
A graduate of several institutes and member of associations across the state, Lavallee emphasizes the value of continuing education and staying up-to-date on trends in the field. He has taught in the Lowell, Medford, Plymouth and Reading police academies and is a former professor of UMass Lowell and Nashua Community College.
He was drawn to Middlesex because of his connections in the city of Lowell and his wife, Susan Lavallee, is an MCC nursing professor.
Lavallee advocates for students to earn their degree to help them get and advance in jobs. By crediting current police officers in the program for their police academy attendance, as well as offering MassReconnect for eligible students 25-plus with no prior degree, he believes Middlesex makes getting an education that much more accessible.
“The people who attend MCC are going to find tremendous opportunity in the workforce,” Lavallee said. “There is great availability in the criminal justice system, and having a degree gives someone an edge up. MCC is very helpful to anybody pursuing a career in criminal justice.”
