Luke DeZago

Research Interests: Policing and police accountability, criminological theory, intimate partner violence and the study of criminal behavior. Education: M.A.: Criminal Justice (2023), University of Massachusetts Lowell B.S.: Criminal Justice (2013), Westfield State University (Massachusetts) Graduate Certificate: C.J. Leadership & Police Development (2022), University of Massachusetts Lowell Graduate Certificate: Victim Studies (2023), University of Massachusetts Lowell Biosketch: Luke DeZago began his doctoral journey in Criminology and Justice Studies in the spring of 2024 after serving as a full-time police officer in Massachusetts for over a decade. His interest in criminology sparked during his undergraduate years at Westfield State University, where, upon graduation, he entered the Worcester Police Academy in 2013 and graduated shortly thereafter at the top of his class. Luke was hired as a full-time police officer for a municipality in Western Massachusetts before earning a spot within the Massachusetts State Police Recruit Training Troop, though he would ultimately withdraw his candidacy to accept another job offer with a police department in the Greater Boston Area (2014). During his decade of policing, Luke most notably served as the department prosecutor in addition to other duties as a field training officer, school resource officer, suicide prevention instructor, firearms licensing officer youth academy instructor, dispatcher and patrol officer, among others. While working full-time, Luke earned his M.A. in Criminology and Justice Studies from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (2023) where he was awarded an Outstanding Graduate Student distinction. Selected Awards and Honors: Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Criminology & Justice Studies Department (UMass Lowell 2023) Outstand Academic Achievement, Worcester Police Academy (WPD 2014)