Page 84 - Women's Yellow Pages (2019)
P. 84
THERESE ROCCO, known to her MELISSA FERRARO grew up in the
colleagues as “The Rock” began her career Carrick neighborhood of Pittsburgh, spent
in law enforcement as a 19-year old clerk some time living in Mt. Oliver, and currently
in the missing persons unit of the Pitts- resides in Jefferson Hills with her husband,
burgh Police Department. Her career ended two children and two quirky rescue dogs. She
nearly fifty years later as an honored and was motivated by personal experiences to get
acclaimed Assistant Police Chief, the first involved in social services and has worked in
woman in Pittsburgh and the nation to reach this sector for almost 20 years.
such a high-ranking position. She became a
household name because of her tenacity and She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in
fearlessness in high profile cases involving Behavioral Science and her Master of Arts
missing children. degree in Organizational Leadership at Point
Park University. She is now the Executive
Ms Rocco is credited with establishing Director at Sisters Place, a supportive hous-
national protocols for investigating miss- ing community committed to assisting single
ing children cases that have saved lives of parent families who are homeless in South-
the untold number of children. She was in- western Pennsylvania. Their mission is to
strumental in breaking the glass ceiling for assist families toward self-sufficiency by pro-
women on the police force, navigating her viding housing and supportive services. Me-
way through discriminating times in a male- lissa is passionate about social justice, mental
dominated field, and helping female officers health awareness and animal welfare. In her
to succeed as a result of her journey - while free time she enjoys reading, gardening, thrift
gaining respect from male peers and those store shopping, and spending time with fam-
she commanded. ily and friends.
The award winning book Therese Rocco:
Pittsburgh’s First Female Assistant Po-
lice Chief is available on Amazon
Empowered women,
empower women.
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