Bryan Cottrell—the accreditation manager for Temple University’s Department of Public Safety (TUDPS) and a retired deputy chief of detectives for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office—can now add artist to his resume. A drawing of his was selected to be featured in a special exhibit after a national request for art submissions from law enforcement officers.

“It is such an honor to have my drawing recognized and displayed among so many impressive art pieces by other law enforcement artists,” Cottrell said. 

Titled “Honor,” his pencil sketch of a black and white worn American flag leaning against a tombstone now hangs alongside 49 other art pieces in the exhibit. “Honor” is based off of a black and white photo that Cottrell took in college for a photography class.

“When I look at the photo and my sketch, they are both a reminder to me of those who serve and the importance of law enforcement in the community,” he said. 

The exhibit featuring Cottrell’s drawing is called Officers as Artists: The Creative Expression of Those Who Serve. Located at the National Law Enforcement’s Memorial Fund Museum, the first-of-its-kind exhibit aims to shed light on the ways that creative expression serves law enforcement officers. The exhibit also includes a story about each officer and how they use art to cope with the challenges of serving in law enforcement. The call for art received 177 submissions, which was narrowed down to 50 by museum officials.  

“The creative expressions featured in this exhibit offer a unique and intimate glimpse into the lives of law enforcement officers,” said William Alexander, CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. “We hope that through this exhibit visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the multifaceted nature of those who serve and the therapeutic role art can play in their lives.”

Temple’s Chief of Police and Vice President for Public Safety Jennifer Griffin said she was proud that Cottrell’s artwork was recognized. 

“It’s an honor to have the artwork of one of our own displayed in a national museum that is dedicated to educating the public about law enforcement,” Griffin said. “Cottrell’s sketch is a beautiful drawing that sends a wonderful message about what it means to serve our country.”

Cottrell previously worked for the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and served in the special victim’s unit, the shooting response unit and the homicide unit during his 25-year career in law enforcement. He said that policing can be an incredibly stressful job, but creating art has helped him through some challenging times. 

“Police officers must often deal with tragic and very stressful situations. So art can be a great outlet for officers to relieve some of that stress and to create a healthier well-being,” he said.

His message to others in law enforcement who need a way to cope: “Don’t be afraid to express yourself through art. I found it to be a great coping mechanism, especially for stress.”

The Officers as Artists exhibit is now open in the DuPont Gallery in Washington, D.C., through Aug. 30, 2025.

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