ProFirst expands campus police support nationwide

ProFirst Training and Consulting is widening its work with university and college police departments, adding background investigations, investigator training and hiring support for campus agencies nationwide. The Nashville firm also had CEO John Pallas address Tennessee Board of Regents chiefs on campus safety and compliant hiring.

Why it matters: - Campus police departments face the same certification and authority standards as municipal and county agencies. - Hiring mistakes can affect student, faculty and staff safety. - ProFirst’s services are aimed at helping campuses build background processes that meet state requirements and withstand scrutiny.

What happened: - ProFirst Training and Consulting said it is expanding its work with university and college police departments across the country. - The Nashville-based firm provides law enforcement pre-employment background investigations, background investigator training and public safety consulting. - On October 3, ProFirst founder and CEO John Pallas spoke at the Tennessee Board of Regents’ annual Police Chiefs Retreat. - The retreat brought together campus police chiefs from across Tennessee. - Presenters also included the Tennessee Office of Homeland Security and the Tennessee Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.

The details: - ProFirst has delivered background investigator training to campus law enforcement at the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University and Drexel University. - In November 2026, ProFirst will deliver in-house training to the University of Pennsylvania Police Department on state-compliant law enforcement background investigations. - In February 2026, ProFirst partnered with Owens Community College in Perrysburg, Ohio, to host a regional law enforcement training consortium. - The consortium focused on modern police hiring practices, background investigation standards and legal compliance. - The event drew investigators, command staff and hiring professionals from agencies across Ohio and surrounding states. - ProFirst recently partnered with Bowie State University to conduct pre-employment background investigations for the Bowie State University Police Department. - The Bowie State engagement gives the department command-level investigative expertise without adding to the workload of its own staff. - ProFirst’s campus law enforcement services include pre-employment background investigations for sworn officers and civilian staff. - The firm also offers in-house background investigator training tailored to each state’s compliance requirements. - Additional services include hiring and selection standards consulting, VSA examinations, expert witness support and litigation support. - ProFirst says it has served more than 100 agencies and trained more than 1,000 background investigators nationwide. - The firm was founded by John Pallas, a law enforcement veteran with more than 27 years of experience and senior command background. - More information is available at ProFirst’s website. - ProFirst’s social media links include Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Between the lines: - The expansion shows campus police departments are investing more in specialized hiring and compliance support as higher-education safety remains a high-scrutiny issue. - ProFirst is positioning itself as a national vendor for agencies that need outside expertise but do not want to build that capacity internally. - Pallas framed the retreat as a chance for campus agencies and partners to share information and leave better prepared.

What's next: - ProFirst will continue offering background investigations, training and consulting to university and college police departments nationwide. - The University of Pennsylvania training session in November 2026 is the next announced campus engagement. - Campus police leaders can request consultations through the company’s website.