An alumna and former adjunct professor is the new chief of campus police.
Jennifer Rodgers received the position Jan. 3 after a national search led by Joey Croslin, vice president for human resources, and a search committee.
“We were looking for someone with a very established background in law enforcement with progressive experience, and someone who had demonstrated leadership qualities,” Croslin said.
Croslin said Rodgers fit the bill.
“She was the perfect candidate from the very beginning. She had all the technical experience we were looking for,” Croslin said. “She also had all the leadership experience we were looking for. Her education is also aligned with what we were looking for, and she has a strong connection to OCU.”
Chief Rodgers has 28 years of experience in law enforcement, serving in communication, investigation and administration positions within the Oklahoma City Police Department. She graduated from OCU with a masters of arts in criminal justice administration and taught as an adjunct professor.
Rodgers said this was her dream job.
“Showing up here on the first day… I don’t even know how to explain it, but it was like coming back home,” she said. “It just brings a smile on my face to see the students here and to know what kind of successes they have in their future.”
Rodgers said her connection to the university will help her because she knows what being a student and a faculty member is like.
“It’s definitely a plus because I’ve been in their shoes before,” she said. “There are things to learn from those two positions that I can bring with me.”
David Hall, sociology/music education junior, said it’s encouraging that she has a connection to the university.
“Being able to see both her background, expertise and connections to OCU gives me encouragement to see what can be taken with the foundation laid by former Chief Brown for innovative practices and changes to departmental processes and policies,” he said.
This semester will be an assessment period, Rodgers said. She interviewed the campus police staff and discussed things like their responsibilities and what they like or dislike about their job.
Hall said he’s heard nothing but positive things about Rodgers.
“I have talked with a few campus officers and faculty, and those who know of Chief Rodgers have nothing but good things to say,” he said.
Rodgers said she’s going to assess whether officers need more training in certain areas, if the police department needs new equipment and if she needs to hire or promote individuals, among other things.
“This semester is going to give us a good chance to fill in some of those holes and start planning for the future, and then, of course, we’ll have the summer to kind of have some time without as many students on campus to realign some bigger projects, perhaps, and then come in strong in the fall,” she said.
One thing Rodgers said she’s already working on is making sure officers are visible.
“My philosophy is that the police officers need to be visible on the campus community,” she said. “I’m trying to change the culture. I want them to be out on the field and be visible and communicate with students and staff and faculty to just hear what their concerns are.”
Rodgers said this is to emphasize campus police officers’ ultimate goal: for students to feel safe on campus.
“I think that gives them the security they need to feel like this is a safe campus and that gives them an opportunity to concentrate on their studies and let us worry about their safety,” she said.
The swearing-in and pinning ceremony for Rodgers will be at 2 p.m. Jan. 29 in Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel University Center.
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