Sean Malinowski, PhD
Managing Partner, Partnership for Policing Innovation and Reform
Building a Future
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.
By fostering collaboration, innovation, and knowledge sharing, Policing Lab’s vision is to build a stronger, more responsive law enforcement community that embraces cutting-edge technologies and best practices.
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
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
Samantha Gwinn
Data Strategy Lead
Tamy Hernandez
Analyst
Carlos Martinez
Police Data Specialist
Carolyn Montagna
Director of Law Enforcement Analytics
Laura O’Donnell
Subject Matter Expert
Alex Perera
Data and Systems Engineer
Kyana Pollas
Senior Project Manager
Christian Prieto
Data Analyst
Edward Prokop
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Dan Tran
Software Engineer
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.
Read More >
Philadelphia
Follow along as the Philadelphia Police Department reshapes public safety through proactive precision policing and community partnerships.
Read More >
Baltimore
See how Community Intelligence Centers reduced homicides by 41%, transforming public safety with data-driven strategy.
Read More >
Chicago
How Strategic Decision Support Centers helped cut shootings by 34% in the hardest-hit districts.
Read More >
