JOE GARCIA

Joe Garcia is a 34-year veteran of the Temple University Police Department, where up until January 25, 2023, he held the rank of Deputy Director of Administration.

Garcia has lived and worked most of his life in Philadelphia, PA. His commitment to his community includes, but is not limited to, serving as Commissioner for the Philadelphia Police Advisory Commission, an official civilian oversight board tasked with helping to
improve the relationship between the Philadelphia Police Department and the Community. Joe served on the Board of the National Congress for Puerto Rican Rights, an organization committed to advocating for the human and civil rights of Puerto Ricans in the Continental U.S. He served on the board of the Community Academy of Philadelphia. Joe is co-founder of Latino Lines Redistricting Coalition, an organization committed to advocating for fair reapportionment of Philadelphia’s city council and Pennsylvania’s house and senate districts. He had the distinct opportunity to serve on the Philadelphia Police Department Community Oversight Board, via President Obama’s Task Force On 21st Century Policing Initiative. Joe currently serves on the board of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) and he is an active member of The History and Educational Lodge-Hall Presevatory Inc. (H.E.L.P. Inc.), an organization founded to educate and advocate for the preservation and restoration of three sites in Woolwich Township, and the Borough of Swedesboro, New Jersey that had Historic significance in the African American story.

Joe is a United States Marine Corps veteran. He holds a Bachelor of Art degree from Temple University and a Master of Science degree in Administration of Human Services from Chestnut Hill College. Joe is also a graduate of the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety: School of Police Staff and Command. Garcia is currently an adjunct Professor in criminal justice and sociology. Additionally, he is managing parter of J.D. Garcia Group LLC, a firm that provides a series of services to public safety agencies, law firms, organizations and individuals. Some of those services include, but are not limited to, public safety and hospital security consulting, training, administrative support, security assessments, and security expert witness testimony in civil matters.

One of his most gratifying achievements remains receiving the PCADV: #Father’s Day Pledge PA Excellence in Male Leadership Award, in 2016. Joe feels blessed to be married to Diana and to have four brilliant children: Cori, C.J, Lorena and Lucas. He also has a brilliant grandson: Micah.