Champlain Today

Meet Professor Peter Danles

Peter Danles, the soft-spoken commander- in-chief of Champlain’s Criminal Justice program, brings to his position a wealth of professional experience and connections for his students to tap into.

For the last seven years, Professor Danles has directed a career-oriented program that grooms graduates for careers in law enforcement, investigation and corrections. Graduates of the program are found at the private investigation firms, and state and local police forces. They have careers in the court systems, probation and parole, the U.S. border patrol and the immigration service.

“Today there are unprecedented opportunities in federal, state and local law enforcement.” Danles says. “The tragic terrorist events of September 11 have further bumped up the demand.”

Danles says the greatest strength of his program is the combination of theory with practical knowledge and experience. Danles’ own background exemplifies this mix. He’s been a case worker and detention center supervisor in the juvenile justice system in Rochester, N.Y. “This gave me an ability to be able to negotiate with teenagers,” he says. “It sensitized me to some of the difficult issues they go through.”

He’s been a police officer in Hanover, N.H., and continues to do part-time patrolling locally. “The police force needs to work within the community to solve problems and keep the community safe,” he says. He’s also been an adult and juvenile probation officer. “Here you’re a combination of a law enforcer and a social worker.”

This professional experience has been coupled with an education that keeps on going. Danles is now studying for a law degree to add to his master’s degree in criminal justice from SUNY Buffalo and his bachelor’s degree in religion, philosophy and psychology from Robert Wesleyan College.

By working in the field, Danles has spun a networking web that benefits his students. Danles instituted the Vermont Police Academy and Federal Law Enforcement Training Center options at Champlain to give his fourth-year students a leg up on the competition. He also just added an intensive finalsemester internship to the bachelor’s degree program.

“I know what it’s like to get out of school and have people say, ‘That’s a nice diploma, now come back after you get some experience,’” Danles said. “Our students actually get their feet wet in the business before they graduate.”

Champlain students are found in resume-enhancing internships across Vermont and beyond. Just last year Danles negotiated a new internship opportunity—a paid, summertime bike patrol that works for the Burlington Police Department. “Our students are extra eyes for the police department,” he says.

All these field experiences help Champlain students transition into their careers. “I feel proud of my students at graduation, but even more so when they tell me they landed a job,” Danles said.

The 42-year-old Maine native oversees faculty members who are seasoned professionals that love to teach. On any given school day, you might find Danles in the classroom teaching introduction to criminal justice, criminal law, police operations, or the criminal justice practicum. In the summer you might get a glimpse of him riding his Suzuki motorcycle around town or see him landscaping at this home in Jericho, where he lives with his wife and two young daughters. He’s also involved in the Young Life Christian outreach program and he created a Club Night for local teens to gather for substance-free fun.

“When a student leaves our program, I hope they have a strong sense of community service,” he says. “I hope they don’t look at law enforcement as an authority trip. I hope they understand the importance of personal integrity and how that influences their role in society.”