Meet the Platoon Supervisors
Sergeant Alan Clark
Sergeant Alan Clark is a soft-spoken leader who commands respect because of his insight into the job and his commitment to the recruits.
A complex man, he plays both basketball and chess and likes to watch Westerns and go out to dinner. His friends from the "old neighborhood" know him as Fox, a name first used by his Mother.
He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from York College in Pennsylvania and Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Joseph's University. Before joining the Police Department, Clark was a Correctional Officer in the Philadelphia Prison System where his brother is a Lieutenant.
Sergeant Clark's ability to adapt to most situations and thrive is illustrated by the time he confronted two robbery suspects on a public bus. He ordered the two men to leave the bus. The first exited with no problem. The second male put his hand in his jacket as if reaching for a gun. When ordered to remove his hand, he didn't but walked toward the Sergeant. Clark drew his weapon, but the man kept walking toward him. The Sergeant ordered him to show his hand a second time and then a third time. Finally, the suspect jerked his hand out with a only a pencil in it.
Although he is only 43, he suggested Lou Gossett Jr. take his role in the Hollywood film about Class 332 "because he is getting old like me."
Sergeant Clark's philosophy of life could serve as a guide to every police recruit. He believes that you should be kind and respectful toward others until you can no longer afford to, then do what you must do to resolve the situation.
Note: Sergeant Clark is now Lieutenant Clark and working in one of the districts.
Sergeant Jeffrey Judge
After the terror he created in them on Day One, new recruits are surprised to discover that Sergeant Jeffrey Judge is not a rabid Drill Sergeant but a gentle man with a keen sense of humor.
He likes to watch Jeopardy on TV and thinks that if Hollywood were to make a movie about Class 332, Tom Cruise should be cast as Sergeant Judge, because "he resembles me most."
Judge is a 23-year veteran of the Department. After working in the 17th District for three years, he joined the Questioned Document Unit and served as a handwriting expert. He has been assigned to the Police Academy since 1994.
Sergeant Judge has led ten platoons through the Academy. Photographs of all of his former platoons are proudly displayed on the bulletin board behind his desk, and many seasoned Police Officers come back to the Academy to say hello to the man who helped to get them started on the right foot and to discuss their careers.
The Sergeant's commitment to education is evident in both his personal and professional life. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and recently received his Master's Degree in Education. Although he has a part-time position teaching accounting, he often stays late at the Academy to tutor recruits who need extra help with their academic studies.
A love of police work is apparently a genetic trait in the Judge family. Sergeant Judge's father is a retired Philadelphia Police Officer and nine other family members including one of his sons protect and serve in Police Departments around the country.
Note: Sergeant Judge made Lieutenant and continued to work at the Police Academy until he retired in 2004. He now teaches in the Philadelphia Public School System where he is developing a criminal justice program for high school students.
