Paul Grattan, Jr.

Paul recently retired from the New York City Police Department where he served for 21 years. Paul spent years as a Digital Communication Officer where he crafted messages for command staff members and the department’s social media accounts. That experience gave him the expertise to now help students build their own public messaging, use social media in a strategic way, and learn how to proactively communicate during a crisis.

Paul became a police officer in 2001 after completing his undergraduate work in criminology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. While in the Police Academy, he responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, participating in the recovery and security operations in the weeks that followed and garnering real-world crisis response and leadership perspective from the very onset of his policing career. With experience in patrol, the Street Narcotics Unit, and as a member of the Community Policing Unit, Paul brings with him years of policing expertise that has reinforced his instructional background with a “boots on the ground” viewpoint that resonates with those who attend his courses.

Paul often draws upon his diverse career to share lessons learned with course attendees, particularly from his time in leadership positions. Upon his promotion to sergeant in 2008, Paul was assigned to lead a plainclothes team responsible for combating felony crimes and sexually motivated offenses throughout the nation’s busiest metropolitan rail system. In 2018 he was promoted to Sergeant Special Assignment in recognition of his work.

Paul spent several years as one of the NYPD’s Digital Communications Officers. He was assigned to the NYPD’s Transit Bureau, a 2,600 sworn member force responsible for securing New York City’s subways. Paul was responsible for strategic communications, policy review, and managing the bureau’s digital media platforms. He brings this expertise directly into the classroom to help students like you navigate today’s fast-paced social media environment.

Paul is also a Policing Fellow with the National Police Foundation, where he serves in an advisory capacity. He focuses on keeping the foundation aligned with the real-world needs of law enforcement’s frontline supervisors. His role with the NPF helps him keep pace with the latest science and research-based law enforcement approaches that training attendees have come to expect and deserve.

Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, a Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Phoenix and is a graduate of the 254th session of the F.B.I. National Academy. Students in Savage Training Group courses can expect Paul to pass along the insight his professors and instructors have shared with him, including some of the most highly respected law enforcement leaders and public information professionals in the world.

After retiring from the NYPD in 2023, Paul accepted a position as a Law Enforcement Advisor to the John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety where he continued to craft messages for press releases and social media.

As you can see Paul is highly experienced, but what makes him such a fantastic instructor is that he is equally committed to sharing his knowledge with you to make you successful.

To attend one of Paul’s classes, get registered for Crisis Communications and Social Media for Public Safety.

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