The campus police department is undergoing personnel changes.
Bradd Brown resigned as police chief, but will continue in his role through Dec. 31.
President Robert Henry announced Brown’s resignation in a Nov. 8 email to the campus community, saying it was for “personal reasons.”
Henry wrote in the email that Brown has “provided exceptional leadership to the OCUPD and the university.”
Leslie Berger, senior director of university communications, said she does not have additional information but echoes Henry’s statements about Brown.
“He has provided outstanding leadership to the campus police department,” she said. “The steps he took to move the department forward will serve the university well into the future.”
Brown served as chief since 2014. Before his university appointment, Brown served in law enforcement on patrol, planning and research, hostage negotiations team, special events, and dignitary protection. He was also commander of a helicopter unit and commander of an information technology unit. He retired as a captain with Oklahoma City Police Department, according to the Oklahoma College Public Relations Association.
With more than 30 years on the force, Brown received various awards from the Oklahoma City Police Department, including the Murrah Bombing Service Award for service during the 1995 bombing recovery.
Brown has degrees in police science and organizational leadership, as well as a masters of business administration from Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond where he graduated with honors.
During his tenure at OCU, Brown:
– implemented software to facilitate better tracking and reporting for Clery Act compliance,
– revised the emergency operations plan,
– worked with Oklahoma City police to conduct joint emergency preparedness exercises, and – oversaw the department’s move to its current location, according to the Nov. 8 email.
Brown said he didn’t have any information to add to Henry’s announcement.
David Hall, music education/sociology senior, said Brown spoke to students often.
“Chief Brown was one of the more involved officers and was always willing to speak to students about problems they had, police-related or not,” he said.
Henry wrote that he will use this time of transition to realign the reporting structure for campus police.
“It is important to me that the OCUPD has the appropriate cabinet-level leadership support,” he wrote.
Joey Croslin, former chief human resources officer, will receive the title of vice president for human resources. Henry also appointed her to be the OCUPD supervisor and to lead the search for the next chief of police, according to the email.
“I am confident that Ms. Croslin will serve the department well and keep me advised of ways that I may be supportive of department priorities,” he wrote.
Croslin said there is no additional information beyond what Henry announced, but updates will be provided about the search for a new police chief as it develops.
Hall said students, faculty, staff, and officers should have discussions about what they want to see the new chief and the department do.
“I would also ask that we all push to keep Ms. Croslin in a supervisory role so that students feel as though the university is not just waiting until there is a problem to provide oversight,” he said.
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