STCC Criminal Justice student serves Springfield community

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – When Officer Tequila M. Taylor-Evans walks her beat in downtown Springfield as part of the Police Department’s walking patrols, she brings more than a badge and uniform. She brings her lived experience, her determination as a mother of three and her perspective as a student in Springfield Technical Community College’s Criminal Justice program.

“I really just want my community to see me and to feel empowered,” Taylor-Evans said. “That’s really why I do everything that I do.”

Born and raised in Springfield’s 16 Acres neighborhood, Taylor-Evans attended local schools. After high school graduation, she worked at a call center before joining the Springfield Police Department in 2015 as a 911 dispatcher.

“I was a dispatcher for almost nine years,” she said. “Then, when I started thinking about joining the police academy, I thought, why not look into the Criminal Justice program at STCC?”

In her early 30s, Taylor-Evans enrolled at STCC while also preparing for the Springfield Police Academy. She graduated from the Academy in April 2024 while raising three young children.

“Sometimes it was rough because you have standards,” she recalled. “Just making sure that I was mentally ready, physically ready for all the tests and bringing my A-game every single day could have been hard. But I had a lot of support. All the tests we’ve done just made me a stronger person.”

Inspired to serve

Taylor-Evans’ earliest memory of law enforcement dates back to when she was four years old. She and her young siblings, playing around, dialed 911 from her mother’s house.

“The officers were very nice to us,” she said. “They educated us on the reasons you need to call 911, and we didn’t get in too much trouble. From there, I was like, wow – just to know that people are actually going to come and show up and educate you. That stuck with me.”

As she grew older, she wanted to provide her neighbors with that same sense of care and responsiveness.

“Sometimes people have positive and negative experiences with law enforcement,” she explained. “I wanted to be a relatable face and give everyone a more positive experience. It’s my community. Why not serve my community?”

Intro to Criminal Justice really focused on theories and statistics of different neighborhoods, and the work that police officers do. Every day I’m able to use those theories and try them out while helping the community. Tequila Taylor-Evans, STCC student and police officer

While a degree isn’t required to serve as a police officer, Taylor-Evans said STCC has enriched her career and expanded her skills.

“The Criminal Justice program at STCC has prepared me through the courses that I’ve taken,” she said. “Intro to Criminal Justice really focused on theories and statistics of different neighborhoods, and the work that police officers do. Every day I’m able to use those theories and try them out while helping the community.”

She praised her professors, mentioning Daniel Hebert, who teaches criminal law and criminal evidence. “I just like the way he lays out the information. It’s easy to understand, especially online. We talk about use of force, mental capacity, jurisdiction – all important elements for my job.”

Taylor-Evans has also excelled academically. She earned a 4.0 GPA during the 2025 summer term, an achievement she is especially proud of while balancing full-time police work and raising three children.

In addition to her studies, Taylor-Evans is a member of the Hampden District Attorney’s Office Future Lawyers of Springfield, a program that introduces students to careers in law and criminal justice.

Professor Seth Dupuis, coordinator of STCC’s Criminal Justice program, said Taylor-Evans represents what the program is designed to accomplish. “We prepare students not only with the academic foundation they need, but also with the critical thinking, communication and decision-making skills that are essential in criminal justice and public safety careers,” Dupuis said. “Students like Tequila show how education combined with real-world experience can create strong, community-focused leaders.”

Dr. Mary Lou Vredenburg, Dean of the School of Liberal and Professional Studies, praised Taylor-Evans as an example of STCC’s mission in action. “Our students are balancing work, family and education while preparing to serve the public in meaningful ways,” Vredenburg said. “Officer Taylor-Evans embodies the resilience and commitment we see every day in our classrooms. She demonstrates how an STCC education can be life-changing not only for students, but also for the communities they serve.”

Taylor-Evans also credits programs like MassReconnect, which has allowed her to pursue her degree tuition-free, with making her education possible.

Community policing

Taylor-Evans began her patrol work in the Indian Orchard neighborhood, where she was part of the first walking patrol initiative in that community. Now, she serves in the busy downtown metro area, assigned to the Ordinance Unit within the Metro Section.

“For me, community policing means meeting people where they are,” she said. “I’ll go out to neighborhoods, I play with kids, I clean up the neighborhood with kids. I’ll go to schools, I’ll go to hospitals. We are people. We’re not just hiding behind colors or a badge or a uniform.”

Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence E. Akers ‘09 praised her commitment and tied her journey back to STCC.

“Although she has only a short time on the job, she has already embraced the vital responsibility of community engagement. Our ordinance officers play a dual role, not only enforcing code violations but also fostering relationships and building trust with our residents which she appears to be doing a great job,” Akers said.

He added: “I also want to recognize the Criminal Justice program at STCC. As an alumnus myself, I can attest to the strength of this program. It gave me a strong foundation and a jumpstart on my college degrees. The affordability and the opportunity to earn an associate degree before transferring to a larger institution were invaluable.”

One of Taylor-Evans’ most meaningful calls came early in her career, when she and other officers responded to a suicidal man on a bridge.

“He got up and he stood to me and he said, ‘I want to talk to you. You seem very respectful. You’re very calm, levelheaded,’” she recalled. “Just him making that immediate rapport with me and feeling safe … It meant a lot. I was able to get him in the ambulance, and he asked me to ride to the hospital with him. Being able to save a life, especially so new on the job, that meant a lot to me.”

For her actions that day, Taylor-Evans was honored with a life-saving award from the Springfield Police Department.

Looking ahead

Taylor-Evans expects to finish her STCC coursework by the end of the spring semester and is considering further studies at Westfield State University and perhaps even law school after Westfield State. For now, she balances school, work and motherhood with discipline and determination.

“What keeps me motivated is the example I’m setting for my community and for my daughter,” she said. “The example that I want to set is that it doesn’t matter where you come from or your past. If you want to do something, keep your mind to it and you can do it.”

Her advice for others considering public safety careers is simple: “STCC would be your best choice to start. It’s in the community, it’s easy to get to, and it offers so many programs. People of any demographic will be able to come here and succeed.”

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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