Name? Rank?
Chuck Gierach, Lieutenant
How long have you been with OSUPD?
20 years
You were just named Supervisor of the Year. What does this award mean to you?
Since I was nominated by my co-workers, it means a lot. Effective law enforcement work requires good teamwork and I couldn’t do my job well if I didn’t have a good team to work with.
The Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) honored fallen peace officers and remembered the life and sacrifice of OSUPD Officer Michael Blankenship during a Peace Officer Memorial Day Ceremony on May 13, 2026.
“This week is truly about thanking not only our OSUPD officers, but also law enforcement nationwide for their sacrifice, commitment and dedication to keep their communities safe,” said OSUPD Chief Dennis Jeffrey.
A Buckeye Alert system test will occur May 12. Students, faculty and staff on all Ohio State campuses will receive a text message that will be clearly identified as a test.
As featured by 10TV News, OSUPD officers had the teenage suspect in custody within minutes of a fatal stabbing.
"As we get notification on RapidSOS of the location of the 911 call, we, in turn, if we have any video in the surrounding area, we’ll start bringing up that information,” said Satoru Persons, director of communications security technology.
The Ohio State University Police Division’s (OSUPD) free Empowerment and Self-Defense Training is taught by certified instructors. Hosted at the Gateway Substation, this three-hour course begins with awareness education, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, and progresses to the basics of hands-on defense training.
The Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) recognized outstanding service and dedication during its 2025 Annual Awards Ceremony on April 1, 2026, honoring officers, staff and a community member for their contributions to campus safety.
Register for OSUPD’s free Empowerment and Self-Defense Training. Taught by certified instructors, this comprehensive, one-day course begins with awareness education, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, and progresses to the basics of hands-on defense training.
The spring 2026 class will be held on April 8 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Gateway Substation.
Learn more about the training and register online
This spring break, soak up the sun, not the stress, and keep your personal safety shining bright. If you’re celebrating, please do so responsibly and be respectful of those around you.
If you’re traveling, make safety a priority. The following tips can help protect your home and your belongings while you’re away:
Finding yourself in an active aggressor situation can cause extreme panic and disorientation. But if you know what to do ahead of time, your chances of surviving this type of emergency situation are greatly increased. This video describes the three types of classroom door locks across campus and how to use them. Watch the whole Surviving an Active Aggressor video online.
Safety is the university’s top priority and Facilities Operations and Development (FOD), CampusParc, Transportation and Traffic Management (TTM) and the Department of Public Safety work together to offer services during the winter months to keep you safe. As snow and ice start to collect, FOD teams are dispatched to treat campus roadways and sidewalks. They remain on campus throughout the day and night treating and plowing as needed. CampusParc crews will also be on campus treating parking lots and garages, with garage rooftops remaining open, when possible.