Building a Future

With Fewer Victims.

Building a Future

With Fewer Victims.

Our

Founding Story

In the late 1980s, Sean Malinowski was building a successful career in advertising, managing campaigns for global brands. But pro bono work exposed him to the devastating impact of violent crime, sparking a calling he couldn’t ignore.

He left advertising, earned a master’s in criminal justice, and joined the Los Angeles Police Department. Over time, Sean became known for leading data-informed initiatives and solving complex policing challenges. His doctoral research carried him to more than a dozen countries, studying how communities around the world confront crime.

In 2016, the Department of Justice asked Malinowski to study the impact and potential solutions to an epidemic of violence in Chicago, where an additional 300 lives were lost to murder in just one year.

He brought together a multidisciplinary team of experts and scholars at the University of Chicago, and over the course of three years, their work helped drive significant reductions in violent crime. The team’s impact led to requests from other cities—Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Miami—to apply their strategies. From this momentum, Policing Lab was born.

Mission Statement

Policing Lab’s mission is to empower police departments through expert technical assistance, hands-on training, and advanced technology, enabling them to enhance operational efficiency and create safer communities.

Values

Policing Lab’s core values center around Collaboration, Respect, Inclusion, and Compassion. All activity is viewed through the lens of harm reduction. Policing Lab team members do more than they are asked to do, and that’s what sets us apart.

Policing Lab and The Partnership for Policing Innovation

Policing Lab is the technical assistance and optimization program of the Partnership for Policing Innovation, a nonprofit committed to enhancing public safety. While the Partnership sets the strategic direction, Policing Lab brings it to life—focusing on data-driven innovation, operational transformation, and effective policing solutions for law enforcement agencies.

Meet Our Team

Policing Lab brings together a diverse team of experts, innovators, and problem-solvers committed to building safer communities. Our work is powered by both full-time staff and trusted contractors who share a dedication to data-driven, compassionate solutions. Together, we combine deep expertise with fresh perspectives to turn ideas into real-world impact.

Policing Lab Staff

Sean Malinowski, PhD

Managing Partner, Partnership for Policing Innovation and Reform

Marjolijn Bruggeling

Executive Director, Policing Lab

Holly Baker

Data Scientist

Stacy Belledin

Policing & GIS Consultant

Kimani Cameron-Perry

Project Coordinator

Ryan Danowitz

Subject Matter Expert

Nicole DeMotto

Director of Data-Driven Strategies

Vlad Drndarski

Software Engineer

Anthony Grubisic

Partner / Treasurer

Girish Guddeti

Police Data Specialist

Samantha Gwinn

Data Strategy Lead

Tamy Hernandez

Analyst

Ta’Nea Jones

Senior Intel Analyst

Carlos Martinez

Police Data Specialist

Niamh McGuinness

UI Designer

Carolyn Montagna

Director of Law Enforcement Analytics

Laura O’Donnell

Subject Matter Expert

Kyana Pollas

Senior Project Manager

Christian Prieto

Data Analyst

Edward Prokop

Strategic Site Advisor

Dan Tran

Software Engineer

Jordan Williams

Project Manager

Proven Success Our Case Studies

Miami

Miami-Dade County is one of the most complex law enforcement environments in the country, with dozens of municipalities, distinct communities, and serious public safety challenges. Over the past five years, three agencies—the City of Miami Police Department, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, and the North Miami Police Department—partnered with The Policing Lab to shift toward a policing model powered by data, collaboration, and strategy. The results have been remarkable, including major reductions in violent crime, as the following case studies show.