Our sincere best wishes and thanks to Dr. Robert M. Domalewski as he retires from a 32-year association and position with the Southern Police Institute.  Dr. Dom, as he is known to hundreds or SPI alums from the AOC and our professional development programs, retired on December 31, 2011 from his position as coordinator for the Institute’s Homicide Investigation courses hosted in Louisville.  It is fitting to recognize his long tenure and his dedication and commitment to SPI since 1979, when he was asked by then Dean of the School of Police Administration and Director of SPI, Dr. John Klotter, to teach in the spring semester of the Administrative Offices Course (AOC).   Since 1988, he began coordinating SPI courses all around the country and has arranged or coordinated training in most of the 50 states (including a favorite trip to Honolulu, Hawaii).

Dr. Domalewski was born and raised in New Jersey.  He enlisted and served in the Air Force during World War II.  After discharge, he attended and graduated from Fordham University in New York City.  After graduation, he joined the FBI as a Special Agent.  He spent twenty five years as an agent functioning in Milwaukee, Louisville and Washington, DC. While still serving as a Special Agent, he was awarded a Master of Science degree from the University of Louisville. In 1986, during his teaching duties at U of L, he completed work on his doctorate and received his Ph.D. from the University of Louisville.

Following his retirement from the FBI, Dr. Dom joined the faculty in 1976 at the University of Louisville as an assistant professor in criminal justice.  He stayed twelve years teaching classes in the degree programs and at the Southern Police Institute (SPI). Since 1988, he worked under contract with SPI, coordinating professional development courses both on campus in Louisville and around the United States.  He continues to lives in Louisville, is a widower and has two children and five grandchildren.

In reflecting over his 32-year career with SPI, Dr. Dom advised that he never intended to pursue a career in law enforcement – it was accidental.  Looking over the years, he has developed a great respect for the profession of law enforcement and he has valued his long career because he so thoroughly enjoys his association with law enforcement officers.  “How can I have so many years in law enforcement and at the university and SPI and still be only 49 years old!” he quipped.

Past SPI Director Dr. William Walsh remembers Dr. Dom fondly:  “He was a very dedicated teacher, an excellent role model for the students and told, absolutely, the worst jokes!”