Shane Bowes ’20, ’22 (M) serves and protects as Connecticut state trooper

Growing up in Massachusetts, Shane Bowes ’20, ’22 (M) was always interested in state law enforcement. After attending a student trooper program in high school through the American Legion and Massachusetts State Police, he decided to fully commit to his lifelong dream and pursue higher education to achieve this goal.

Bowes was looking for a college with a dual-degree program to complete his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice. Salve Regina became his school of choice after considering familial connections, merit scholarships and the University’s oceanside campus.

As a student in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Bowes connected with several U.S. Naval War College faculty, including Dr. Hank Brightman, who is also an adjunct professor at Salve Regina. “Dr. Brightman was very special to the undergraduate and graduate CJC programs, because he brought so much to the table and was always willing to help Salve in and out,” Bowes said.

As Bowes went on to complete his master’s degree in administration of justice and homeland security with a concentration in leadership in justice, he noticed that the opportunities to professionally network with students, faculty and staff were even greater at the graduate level.

“I gained a lot from my classmates within the graduate classes,” he said. “Everyone combined the academics with their personal experiences and work experience.”

Bowes also enjoyed the holistic-minded leadership and counseling courses, which helped him prepare for the demands of law enforcement. “I knew that I’d be met with days of extreme stress and compiled trauma, so I wanted to seek opportunities to create strategies to manage these feelings,” he said.

Entering law enforcement in Connecticut

By the time he began his master’s degree, Bowes was already in the hiring process for the Connecticut state trooper program. While it took around 6-7 months, he eventually attained his goal of joining the academy.

“You are in the academy for 28-30 weeks, Monday through Friday,” he said. “It’s long days of rigorous, physical and emotional stress with physical and academic training. You are challenged in every way possible to be transformed from a civilian into a state trooper.”

Coming out of the academy, Bowes was assigned to Troop D, the patrolling unit for 13 towns in northeastern Connecticut. Troopers in this group typically respond to local 911 emergency calls for service and conduct investigations on the road.

Bowes is also a member of the Honor Guard and a mentoring program for state police recruits attending the academy. “These positions have given me a different perspective on my job outside the traditional patrol function,” he said.

In November, Bowes will begin training to become a State Troopers Offering Peer Support (STOPS) peer contact. Part of the Connecticut State Police’s wellness program, STOPS peer contacts are available to any state trooper who wants to have a confidential conversation and seek additional services the state offers.

“I will be offering support and promoting overall wellness for Connecticut state troopers undergoing stress and trauma on their jobs,” Bowes said.

A word of advice

Bowes offered advice to any student looking to pursue a criminal justice degree at Save Regina. “Keep your opportunities open and allow yourself to pursue your passions and strengths fully,” he said. “You never know where your career is going to take you and how you’re going to be influenced by different opportunities.”

Reflecting on his five years at Salve Regina, Bowes said that his education helped him prepare for his current role in the Connecticut State Police. He credits the holistic leadership and counseling courses for not only managing his stress and trauma on the job, but also helping him continue his mentorship role in helping his fellow troopers.

“Having those humanitarian values instilled throughout my college education has allowed me to be more comfortable in providing empathetic service to victims,” Bowes said. “Salve is trying to foster a harmonious, just and merciful perspective on life. It was interesting to see this in the perspective of the law enforcement field, as it shaped the way I see and problem solve now in my everyday job.”