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Presenters
Elaine Surma
Senior Supervisory Special Agent
PA Office of Attorney General
4801 Atlantic Avenue
Erie , PA 16506
814-836-4355; fax 814-836-4361
Agent Elaine Surma began her law enforcement career 30 years ago as a Special Agent for the Bureau of Criminal Investigation in the Pennsylvania Department of Justice. She worked in Western Pennsylvania and transferred to the Erie Office in 1987. In 1998, she served as the Regional Director for the Bureau of Narcotic Investigation and Drug Control in Erie, and then in March 2001 transferred to the Drug Demand Reduction Unit in the capacity of a Senior Supervisory Narcotic Agent. She is currently the Senior Supervisory Special Agent in the Education and Outreach Unit.
She graduated from Thiel College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Sociology. She earned a Master of Arts degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Administration of Justice and an additional Master of Arts Degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in Communications.
She has conducted over 2,000 workshops for law enforcement professionals and community organizations during her career. In 1991, the Business and Professional Women’s Association of Pennsylvania selected her as their statewide Young Careerist. She has also received numerous commendations including the Erie County District Attorney’s Recognition Award for Outstanding Service to law enforcement, and the Fraternal Order of Police’s Award of Excellence in Law Enforcement.
She is deeply involved with community and civic service associations. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Federation of Business and Professional Women, Meadville Chapter and is the BPW/PA legislative chair; the Brig Niagara League; the Erie Humane Society; the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 92; Erie County Policy and Planning Board, Erie’s Healthy Youth Development Board and active in of Our Lady of the Lake Parish.
She remains active as a polygraphist, maintaining memberships in the American Association of Police Polygraphist and the Academy of Certified Polygraphists. She has been recognized for her polygraph work, and earning the title of “Expert Polygraphist.”
She is currently active with several organizations within Erie County that are involved with the prevention of sexual abuse and building self-esteem of children. She is a contributing author to the textbook “The Sexual Trafficking of Children” and has published a study with Edinboro University of Pennsylvania on Pedophilia. She is on the staff of the Criminology Department of Gannon University of Erie and has also served on staff of the Mercyhurst College as an Act 120 instructor at the Mercyhurst College Police Academy.
