Tagged: Safety

A Buckeye Alert system test will occur September 9. Students, faculty and staff on all Ohio State campuses will receive a text message that will be clearly identified as a test. 

For four Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) and Department of Public Safety (DPS) employees, serving Buckeyes is about more than the work they do on campus. It’s also about continuing to learn, grow and prepare for the future. 

OSUPD Deputy Chief Alan Horujko, OSUPD Detective Corey Manley, DPS Communications Supervisor Merle Vaessin and DPS Property Room Coordinator and Court Liaison Jason Ross each earned their master’s degrees from The Ohio State University. 

As thousands of Buckeyes return to campus for a new academic year, staying safe and prepared is top priority. Dennis Jeffrey, Chief of Police for The Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) and Christian Selch, director of Communications and Security Technology speak about campus safety resources, game-day preparations, and the technology helping first responders across campus. 

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.

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. 

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.