Our Founders
Madeline Lewis
Madeline Lewis is a patrol officer with the Lower Merion Township Police Department in Montgomery County, PA. During her tenure, she has been assigned to the Department’s Patrol Division, Auxiliary Services Unit, Investigations Unit, and Staff and Inspections Unit.
She has served as agency Accreditation Manager since 2016. As Accreditation Manager her tasks include overseeing both state accreditation (PLEAC) and CALEA accreditation programs, updating policies to ensure compliance with standards changes and best practices, and the development and implementation of required trainings. In addition to accreditation Ofc. Lewis acts as the Department’s grant writer/coordinator, is a certified physical fitness instructor, and is a member of the Department’s Hostage Negotiations Team. Ofc. Lewis has received training as both an Accreditation Manager and Accreditation Assessor. She has performed numerous mock assessments, and has been an Assessor for the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. She holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from the University of Valley Forge and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
484-340-2242
John
String
John D. String is a Lieutenant with the Lower Merion Township Police Department in Montgomery County, PA. He is currently assigned to the Department’s Patrol Division as a Watch Commander and held previous positions with the Department's Staff and Inspections Unit, Canine Unit and served as a Field Training Officer.
He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command, the MALEEDS Regional Command College located at Princeton University, and completed FBI-LEEDA’s Leadership Trilogy training, Penn State University’s POSIT course, and several additional leadership and liability training courses. In 2016 he was trained as an accreditation manager and then as an assessor in 2017.
While assigned to the Department’s Staff and Inspections Unit, he supervised the Department’s PLEAC and CALEA reaccreditations.
John holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration from Arkansas State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Additionally, John is a Board Member of the Kindle Hill Foundation in Blue Bell, PA. The Kindle Hill Foundation focuses on providing training and therapy for various groups, including law enforcement and first responders.
610-348-8082
Lt. Edward Schikel started his law enforcement career with the Philadelphia Police Department, rising to the rank of Sergeant and working in various units, including the Crime Scene Unit. He was a key member of the department’s “PPD 2020 Unit” where he was tasked with conducting research into the Department’s efforts to pursue and maintain PLEAC accreditation. Lt. Schikel joined the District Attorney’s Office in November of 2010 after serving fifteen (15) years with the City of Philadelphia, currently serving as the Commander of the Forensic Services Unit.
He has participated in hundreds of homicide investigations and has lectured extensively on forensic investigation procedures, evidence collection, and chain of custody. In addition to his decades of law enforcement experience, Lt. Schikel boasts an extensive training history. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee National Forensic Academy, receiving the prestigious Dr. William Bass Award for Forensic Excellence, and received a Master of Business Administration degree from Holy Family University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alvernia University. He has remained active in the education realm and is an adjunct instructor for Drexel University and Arcadia University.
Lt. Schikel’s background and experience make him an asset to agencies looking to review or improve their current evidence collection, handling, and retention policies and procedures.
Policy and Procedure Specialist
Edward Schikel
Managing Consultants
Greg Budman
Greg Budman is a Corporal with the Pennsylvania Capitol Police in Dauphin County. He is currently assigned to the Administration Section as the Accreditation Manager, Chief Intelligence Officer and oversees the Critical Infrastructure Security Assessment Team.
Since 2013, he has been assigned as the agency’s Accreditation Manager directing and managing both the state accreditation program (PLEAC) as well as international accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA). He is responsible for updating policies and procedures to ensure the department is in compliance with the high standards established by both PLEAC and CALEA. Through his proficiency and expertise , the Pennsylvania Capitol Police has been recognized as a Premier Agency by the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. In 2020, the Pennsylvania Capitol Police received their Certificate of Law Enforcement Accreditation through PLEAC and Certification of Advanced Accreditation through CALEA. He has received training as both an Accreditation Manager and Assessor. As an assessor, he has performed numerous on-site and mock assessments for Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies.
Greg holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Administration of Justice from the University of Pittsburgh.
John Ross
John Ross is a Sergeant with the Philadelphia Police Department and has served for over 32 years. As a sergeant with PPD he works hand in hand with the LGBTQ community, Homeless Outreach Services, and business stakeholders to develop relationships and address community crime concerns. Additionally, John oversees the Philadelphia Unsolved Murder website, statistical monitoring and reporting of juvenile compliance with PCCD, community engagement with citizens and crime victims to develop a framework to help reduce and prevent crime.
In 2015, he was assigned as PPD’s Accreditation Manager and oversees PLEAC accreditation for the City of Philadelphia. His duties include maintaining PLEAC proofs of compliance, departmental and external policy review, ongoing training of professional development, counseling of personnel, development and maintaining of the Philadelphia Unsolved Murder website, statistical monitoring and reporting of juvenile compliance with PCCD, community engagement with citizens and crime victims to develop a framework to help reduce and prevent crime.
He is currently a member of the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission. John holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration/Organization Management from Gwynedd Mercy University.
Accreditation Specialist
Anthony Lombardo
Anthony (Tony) Lombardo is a Sergeant with the East Hempfield Township Police Department in Lancaster County. He is currently assigned as the Administrative Sergeant overseeing the Department's PLEAC Accreditation. In addition to serving as the Department's Accreditation Manager, Sgt. Lombardo oversees traffic studies and enforcement and has been a project manager for various programs in the department. He has previously served as the Department’s selective enforcement officer, field training officer, patrol OIC, and patrol sergeant.
Sgt. Lombardo is responsible for coordinating training records, organizing policies for annual review and PLEAC compliance, operational organization, and assisting with the department’s field training program. He has a background in traffic enforcement, weights and measures, MCSAP, and collision reconstruction. He currently serves as the leader of the Lancaster County Crash Team #2 and is an assistant coordinator for the Lancaster County Major Crash Investigation team. Additionally, Sgt. Lombardo serves as the lead EVOC instructor at the Harrisburg Area Community College and instructs the Vehicle Code and situational training at the HACC Police Academy. He has participated in curriculum development for several MPOETC academy modules and in-service elective courses.
He holds a bachelor of Science in Management from Albright College.
IT Management and Technology Consultant
Jake Galloway
Jake Galloway is a Technology & Database Specialist with the Lower Merion Township Police Department. He serves as the primary point of contact for all Police related technology, ranging from in-car MDT’s and modems to PSB infrastructure and endpoints, working coherently with the Township IT department.
As a graduate of Drexel University, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree with a concentration in server technology. With a strong belief in lifelong learning, Jake has also earned numerous certifications including ITIL, MCSE, and is actively pursuing a CySA+ certification. With a focus on Information Technology in the public service sector, Jake has also completed a Cybersecurity for Local Law Enforcement program through the University of Louisville.
Having worked in a range of IT environments, Jake has a proficient understanding of core IT systems (AD/Azure/m365/AWS/Networking) to Law Enforcement Reporting Systems (RMS), Body Worn and Vehicle Mounted Camera Systems, and various industry-specific programs with an emphasis on the full-service lifecycle from strategy and design to operation and continual service improvement.