VSU Announces Search for Next Director of Public Safety, Chief of Police

VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University has kicked off the search for its next director of public safety and chief of police.

The director of public safety/chief of police serves as a primary resource and advisor to the university on matters related to campus safety and security and is responsible for the comprehensive operations of the university’s public safety efforts. The director of public safety/chief of police leads and directs the VSU Police Department, as well as the Department of Emergency Management and the Department of Environmental and Occupational Safety, with the goal of protecting the life and property of the entire university community.

This position will be advertised on VSU’s Human Resources and Employee Development employment opportunities webpage, as well as with the Chronicle of Higher Education, HigherEdJobs.com, Inside Higher Ed, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, the Georgia Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

A University System of Georgia screening/triage group — Traycee Martin, vice president of VSU’s Division of Finance and Administration; Bruce Holmes, director of safety and security and chief of police for the USG; two institutional USG chiefs of police; and two VSU vice presidents or chief business officers with firsthand knowledge of the role this position plays at the university level — will review all applications, with a goal of helping to identify the seven to 10 most qualified candidates. 

The applications will also be reviewed by a special campus committee — Dr. Shani Wilfred, a faculty member from the Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice representing the Faculty Senate; Sterlin Sanders, a staff member with the Division of Information Technology representing the Council on Staff Affairs; Maya Mapp, president of the Student Government Association; Niki Turley, associate dean of students with the Division of Student Affairs; Tee Mitchell, executive director of enrollment services; Phil Allen, executive assistant to the president and vice present for external affairs; Lacey Kondracki, safety and security program manager for the USG; and Holmes. This group will narrow the applicants to three finalists, who will then visit the campus for on-site interviews toward the latter part of the fall semester.