Campus police officials have hired two new officers and are in the process of hiring a new chief of police.
William Citty, interim director of operations of campus police, said he has hired officers Kristal Reynolds and Roy Anderson, bringing the total officers to six.
Roy Anderson has been a police officer for 17 years and previously worked for Mid-America Christian University.
Citty said Anderson will be a strong asset to the department because of his experience working with campus police departments and his likable personality.
“I really like him,” Citty said. “He has a great demeanor. I can see that he cares about doing a good job and interacting with and protecting students and staff.”
Reynolds previously worked for the Oklahoma City Police Department, where Citty said she received high-quality training.
“She communicates very well,” Citty said. “No matter where you are as a law enforcement officer, communication is very important.”
Reynolds said she got into law enforcement after working at Chesapeake Energy Arena where she had several friends who were cops who encouraged her to become a police officer.
“I have a servant’s heart,” she said. “I really like helping people.”
Reynolds said she enjoys working for a campus police department because it is a much more positive environment then working for a municipal police department.
“Any of the students that have come in have been really nice,” she said.
Citty said he does not plan to hire any more officers at this point.
“Some things will need to be addressed when the new chief comes in,” he said.
Citty is involved in the search process for the new chief of police, which he said has attracted over 25 applicants. He said a search committee was formed of himself, a few faculty members, Jessica Martinez-Brooks, interim diversity and inclusion advocate, and two students, Leondre Lattimore and Luisa Torres.
The search has been narrowed down to five applicants, Citty said. The search committee will narrow the applicants down to two or three at their next meeting, he said. Those applicants will have forums where students can meet them and ask questions.
“I’m encouraged already by the interviews we’ve already done,” Citty said.
Lattimore, studio art senior, said the process has been very thorough so
far. He said he hopes the students will embrace the next chosen chief.
“Our next chief should be community oriented and ready to serve and protect our campus,” he said.
The chief should be transparent with the campus community and interact with students, he said.
“My hope for the next police chief is to build a stronger relationship
between students and to help create a safe and welcoming environment for
everyone,” he said.
A new chief will most likely be chosen by January, Citty said. The next chief should be willing to connect with students and should focus on inclusion, both within campus police and in the campus community, he said.
“You’ve gone through quite a few chiefs in a short amount of time,” he said. “Your chief needs to be a very good communicator but also a good administrator.”
The chief must be able to communicate factual information to the community, he said.
“The hardest thing for law enforcement to combat isn’t crime, it’s the fear of crime,” he said.
Campus police must embrace diversity, Citty said.
“Whatever you do, embracing diversity is stated so much, but it’s really so true,” he said. “You have to police every person the same. You have to treat everybody the same.”
Citty said the lieutenant position is currently vacant and won’t be filled until after a new chief is hired.
The new chief needs to be a strong leader, Reynolds said.
“We need someone who is willing to listen to what the students have to say and better serve the students,” she said.
Reynolds said she wants the students to feel that they can trust her and talk to her.
“I want the student to feel at ease,” she said. “If they want to talk, I want to sit and talk.”
Reynolds said she encourages students to use the RaveGaurdian app and stay aware on campus. The app allows students to report suspicious activity, call the emergency number, and request a police escort.
“If you don’t feel safe call us, even if it seems small and minor,” she said.
The police officers are always working to help the students, Reynolds said.
“I just know that me and the other officer, Roy Anderson, both of us are really wanting to help the department out and form some new relationships with us and the students,” she said.
Anderson was unavailable for comment.
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