An officer, an author
and a gentleman

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

T om Loglisci Jr. isn’t your average 27-year-old. In fact, there’s nothing average about him.
At 6-feet-6, Loglisci joined the Philadelphia Police Department when he was just 19. He’s a self-published author and a motivational speaker. He’s also celebrating one year in his Torresdale home.
Much of his success he credits to his unnamed mentors — one a Philadelphia police officer and another a lawyer, along with his mother — and the simple lessons they taught him. They are lessons he shares in his book, Simple Solutions for a Complicated Life: 20 Lessons That Will Change Your Life.
Loglisci also credits his mom with his love for Elvis. An Elvis-in-Hawaii clock graces one wall in his second-floor home office, while other walls are decorated with commendations he has received during his eight years as a policeman.
Simple Solutions has readers go back to the basics of how to simplify their lives with lessons like Breathe and Happiness is your responsibility.
A portion of the $19.95 price will be donated to breast-cancer research and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Originally from Juniata, Loglisci grew up in a single-parent household and was lacking some male role models.
He met the person, whom he calls his police mentor, when he joined the Philadelphia Police Explorer Cadet Program at the Philadelphia Police Academy on State Road. The program offers young people between 14 and 20 years of age the opportunity to learn about the values needed to succeed in a law-enforcement career and in life, according to its Web site.
Loglisci rose to the ranks of sergeant and lieutenant before entering the police academy. He’s also living those values today and offering lessons to help others get through the tough times as well as the good.
As a teen, Loglisci had to work long hours to help make ends meet. While his friends were sleeping until noon or hanging down the Jersey Shore, Loglisci was working in the warehouse of a printing company.
He was following Lesson No. 20: Do what you have to do.
"If you have to work eight and a half hours to take care of your family, exercise an hour a day to feel better — the whole lesson makes you think about what you want and do what you have to do to get it," he said.
When he had the chance to go on vacation as a teen, his destination wasn’t the beach. It was a Police Explorer boot camp to learn leadership skills.
"It gives you that next edge that you can make it," he said.
Loglisci works in the Northeast’s 2nd Police District these days, having started his career in the 23rd district in North Philadelphia.
After working eight years as a police officer and seeing the tragedies of everyday life for so many people, he wanted to write the book to share with others the things his mentors shared with him, and to help them overcome challenges in life.
"My mentors dedicated their time and lending an ear, and made it a point that I succeeded. Their lessons were so powerful that I didn’t want to keep them to myself," he said. "I’m honoring them by letting others benefit from their lessons."
"Be who you are and be that well" – St. Francis DeSales.
Loglisci learned that lesson from the Oblates at Northeast Catholic High School. It’s a reminder to live life to the fullest and not let others quash your dreams.
Loglisci is living his dream and enjoying motivational speaking engagements. He’ll be the keynote speaker this weekend at a conference in New Jersey.
"My passion is not only for police work but also public speaking," he said.
Loglisci also is working on his second book about relationships, with lessons he learned about love from his life mentor. They’ll come in handy — the author/police officer is planning a May 2009 wedding. ••
To order or for more information, visit www.simplesolutions4life.com
To learn more about the Philadelphia Police Explorers, visit www.ppdonline.org/cmty/cmty_explore.php
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com