Alumni Profile: Joe Picone '14, M.C.J. '17

Adjunct Faculty, Criminology and Justice
College of Arts and Sciences

Upon completing my graduate degree at Loyola, I was fortunate enough to join the  faculty as an adjunct instructor, teaching Introduction to Criminal Justice Systems, Violent Offenders, and Police Behavior, both online and in traditional classroom settings. 

I believe Loyola students benefit from my practical and professional experience, with a career spanning nearly 35 years in the field of criminal investigations. Upon retiring as a Detective Captain in 2016 from a New Orleans area law enforcement agency, I was appointed Director of Criminal Investigations and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation at the Louisiana Department of Justice by the Attorney General. As Director, I oversee specialized and complex investigations such as public corruption, fraud, child exploitation, digital forensics, and fugitive apprehension, along with budgeting and personnel management. And in chairing the Louisiana Law Enforcement and Fireman’s Survivor Benefit Review Board, we help provide financial relief to families of fallen first responders. 

Early in my time as a law enforcement officer, I remember noting many supervisors were Loyola alumni and was determined to follow in their footsteps. After serving many years as a law enforcement officer and being inspired from a colleague and Loyola alum, I enrolled non-traditionally at Loyola and began a 7-plus year commitment to earn the degrees that would polish and enhance my career. Several courses within the Criminology and Justice curriculum proved to be beneficial and provided essential tools to negotiate the complexities of modern law enforcement. Courses such as research methods, program planning and evaluation, and juvenile delinquency (to name a few) encouraged critical thinking and problem solving, which assisted greatly for addressing issues in a fast-moving and shifting criminal justice system.

Both of my Loyola degrees were interesting and beneficial to augment my career, but the professors deserve most of the credit. Their knowledge, dedication, compassion, and professionalism inspired me to excel in my coursework and eventually motivated me to be their colleague. From forensic chemistry to sociology, this is a consistent part of the Wolf Pack community.   

In my classroom, I hope to complement my academic instruction with a blend of real world experience, invite specialized professionals from within the criminal justice community to assist in lecture, and strive to provide students with career guidance whenever possible. One of my primary goals is to encourage students to overachieve in their coursework, as all aspects of the criminal justice system are in need of future career employees who desire to make a positive and significant difference within our complex system of justice.