Oklahoma City University officials named a Major with 33 years of law enforcement experience as the new police chief.
After months of a national search authorized by President Martha Burger, Major Dexter Nelson has been named to the position.
Nelson previously worked with the Oklahoma City Police Department in patrol operations, homicide, internal affairs, media relations, gang enforcement, narcotics investigations, Will Rogers World Airport, and the hostage/crisis negotiations unit. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
In a Jan. 27 email to the campus community, Burger wrote, “Major Nelson’s extensive experience in law enforcement and community relations will serve him well as he leads our department forward.”
The police chief position became vacant Sept. 9 after former Police Chief Rusty Pyle resigned. Sergeant Mark LaHue filled the position as interim police chief until Bill Citty was hired to be the interim director of campus police.
Citty said he has worked with Nelson in the past in the Oklahoma City Police Department and that he is a strong, honest communicator.
“He’s comfortable and really committed to meeting with those individuals he serves,” he said.
Nelson has the community experience and community engagement, Citty said.
“I think it is a huge advantage having someone who already knows the Oklahoma City community and the area around the campus,” he said.
Nelson said the first thing he will do as chief is find the deficiencies in the department that he can work to improve. He said he hopes to further education and understanding between campus police and students by having regular dialogue with students.
“My goals are to try to get people talking, bring people together, hold forums with the students, talk with the faculty, and get officers to open up,” he said.
To foster an inclusive environment in the police department and on campus, Nelson said he will look into incorporating required officer diversity training.
“Training is key to keeping your department ahead of the storm and ahead of problems,” he said.
Anthony Edwards, Dulaney-Browne Library circulation technician, said he is happy Nelson was selected as the university’s first person of color in the position.
“We need more transparency, a more diverse campus police force and a greater emphasis on community policing,” Edwards said.
It’s important for students to see people of color in high positions, Edwards said.
“Especially on this campus, where so many students of color feel isolated, that is nothing but a good thing,” he said.
Having a person of color in this position lets other people of color know that it’s possible, Nelson said.
“If a little kid never sees someone like them, they might never know that that exists for them,” he said. “I didn’t realize what it meant to be Black until I was 11 years old.”
When he was a kid, Nelson said he was invited to a birthday party at a country club, but his grandfather had to explain to him that he would not be allowed in because he was not white.
“That was the first time I realized what my skin color meant,” he said.
Nelson said he had experiences being stopped by police officers when he was a teenager because he was Black. He’s been working to change that pattern ever since.
“It means a lot for a person of color, a female, someone of a different gender identity, to be seen doing things where someone else was doing that,” he said. “It makes it possible.”
Nelson said working as the police chief is the last job he plans to have.
“I plan on being there. I’m not a job hopper,” he said.
BreAuna Shaw, business freshman and member of the Black Student Association (BSA), said Nelson should acknowledge the issues students of color face on campus and address them.
“I just hope that he realizes that just because he is a minority, it’s not going to fix a bunch of things. He’s still going to have to work hard,” she said. “Things are more than just black and white, so I hope that he’s still able to bring something new that will be helpful to OCU.”
Destini Carrington, psychology senior and BSA president, said Nelson should organize liaisons in each student organization and department on campus to make sure students’ voices are heard.
“I want him to remember and value transparency,” she said.
Carrington said Nelson should recognize that students are expecting change and improvements.
“I want him to come into this position, yes learning OCU culture and our climate, but not being stagnant in, ‘that is the way that it has to be,’” she said. “I want him to be a changemaker here.”
Shaw said students want to feel more connected to Nelson.
“One thing that will help is if he shows us that he’s more than an officer,” she said. “I think if he shows that different aspect to him, it would really help bridge that gap and show more of a connection between law enforcement and students.”
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