Dr Michel Funicelli
Staff profile
- Lecturer in Policing
Best thing about teaching at Teesside?
We have small class sizes which creates a teaching and learning environment where I feel closer to my students and can make the experience more personal.
How do your students benefit from your experience?
I’ve worked in policing across a variety of investigative units with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for over three decades, so can confidently say I’ve ‘been there, done that’, for many policing situations. I bring this experience to the classroom, giving real-life examples of how theory and practice interact.
How has your research enhanced your teaching?
My doctorate in experimental psychology and memory detection plus interests in forensic psychology enable me to combine theoretical aspects of policing with knowledge of human behaviour. Policing is often more about understanding how people behave in difficult and stressful situations than simply enforcing laws. I also taught policing in New South Wales, so I bring this international perspective to the classroom.
What has been the highlight of your career?
Having spent half of my policing career on an anti-organised crime unit, I realised how complex policing is as a profession. Some investigations lasted years, their scope was international and investigative techniques were limited only by imagination. We also faced legal challenges due to the global nature of our mission, all of which pushed our resolve to the limit.
Best piece of advice for your students?
Read as much as you can, be curious, learn from your tutors’ practical experience, and don’t forget to have fun.
