Campus Police Chief Rusty Pyle and Lieutenant Michael Kavenius resigned yesterday after Kavenius was accused of racial profiling.
Rusty Pyle, former chief of police
The OCU communications office sent an email to the campus community at 2:30 p.m. today detailing the situation.
“Tomorrow will be Chief Rusty Pyle’s last day at OCU. Pyle has resigned as chief to return to retirement. Interim CFO David McConnell will provide oversight for the police department,” the email read.
Michael Kavenius, former lieutenant
McConnell has overseen police and public safety departments throughout his career, the email read.
“He will be providing more information about OCU Police initiatives next week,” the email read.
Mark LaHue, sergeant, was named interim chief of police, effective Sept. 14.
“Sgt. LaHue has served as a full-time certified police officer in Oklahoma since 2009,” the email read. “He has held various positions in law enforcement including school resource officer, field training officer, emergency response team commander, assistant police chief, and interim police chief, among others.”
Mark LaHue, interim chief of police
Leslie Berger, university communications director, said in an email with Student Publications that yesterday was Kavenius’s last day.
The resignations come less than six months after former police chief Jennifer Rodgers was terminated.
Anthony Edwards, Dulaney-Browne Library circulation technician who submitted a grievance against Kavenius for racial profiling, said the atmosphere and toxicity of overhead administration must be addressed as well.
“They are the symptom of a larger problem on campus,” he said. “This does not solve the issues with Joey Croslin covering for them, and it certainly doesn’t solve Martha Burger’s complicity with the racist tweets and actions.”
The OCU President needs to resign.