Following a national search, Oklahoma State University selected Leon Jones, a 22-year veteran of the OSU police force, to serve as its new chief of police in August.

Jones, who became the first African American to serve as chief, was a captain of the police department’s patrol division at the time of his selection. He holds associate, bachelor and master degrees in criminal justice and is a 2005 graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy.

Pointing to Jones’ many years of service, Chief Public Safety Officer Michael Robinson said, “He will make an excellent chief to lead the department and continue its dedication to provide a safe environment for our students, employees and visitors on the Stillwater campus.”

“The OSU-Stillwater campus already has a stellar reputation for being one of the safest in the region,” said Chief Jones. “I look forward to leading the department and ensuring our officers and department remain dedicated to serving the campus.”

Jones leads an OSU force of 33 officers and 10 full-time civilian employees. The department was the first law enforcement agency in the state to be accredited by the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police.

Later in the year, Jones hired Joe Milek, a veteran of 25 years in law enforcement from Xavier University in Cincinnati, as assistant police chief. Milek has a master’s in criminal justice and previously served as director of public safety and chief of police at Xavier. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Other changes in the department include moving the Emergency Operations Center to provide a more seamless work flow between police and emergency operations.

A Core Campus Patrol has also been added. Three officers have an office in the Student Union and patrol the core portions of campus on foot, bicycle and Segway on weekdays between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. to increase police presence in an area not accessible to a patrol vehicle.

Jones said this patrol unit is essential to the department’s goal of continually improving its relationships with OSU students and employees to create the safest environment possible for the campus community.