ESU Success Stories – Danielle Perez '90

Posted by: admin on April 14, 2011, No Comments

East Stroudsburg University alumni work in a variety of fields – from education and biology to communications and these pursuits can take them around the world. And sometimes they can find themselves working side by side without even knowing about their shared educational experience. Such was the case with Danielle Perez ’90 and Robert Hillman.

Danielle Perez, a special victims detective with the Nassau County Police Department on Long Island, N.Y., graduated from ESU in 1990 with a degree in hospitality management but pursued a career in law enforcement after encouragement from her brother, a lieutenant with the NYPD.

“As a special victims detective, a typical day is very busy,” she says. “It is always important to remain objective because things are not always what they appear to be, and there are many twists and turns throughout the investigation. Oftentimes, what you think the case is and what it turns out to be are entirely different once the evidence is evaluated. It requires keeping an even balance between being a psychologist and a cop.”

Working in an adjoining office to Danielle’s at the NCPD is robbery squad detective Robert “Barney” Hillman, who studied at East Stroudsburg from 1970-1973, when ESU was East Stroudsburg State College. He left college before graduation to join the police department, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who also dedicated their lives to law enforcement.

Perez joined the Nassau County force in 1997 and Hillman has been on the force for 38 years with no thoughts of retirement. The duo discovered their shared alma mater by chance when Perez overheard Hillman talking to his partner about East Stroudsburg. Hillman had been selected to work a homicide cold case as his investigation involved a sex offender that Perez was responsible for registering.

“It was fate that Barney and I ended up working at the same police department,” said Perez. “In a department of 3,699 officers, the odds were very slim that we ever would have discovered our connection.”

Both officers lived at Shawnee Hall on campus, although 20 years apart.

“I am honored that I share this connection with a decorated detective such as Barney, and I am even more proud that our alma mater is ESU,” said Perez.