Tagged: Safety

A Buckeye Alert system test will occur September 10. Students, faculty and staff on all Ohio State campuses will receive a text message that will be clearly identified as a test. 

Name? Rank?

Tom Shankle, 239 Lieutenant assigned to Night Watch.

How long have you been with OSUPD?

16 years.

Where are you from and how does that help shape who you are today?

I was born and raised in Canton, Ohio where my uncle worked for the Stark County Sheriff’s Office. He was one of my influences in becoming a police officer.

What inspired you to become an OSUPD officer?

As recently highlighted by NBC4, The Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) Chief Kimberly Spears-McNatt is retiring after 30 years of service. Spears-McNatt graduated from Ohio State in 1993 and started working for OSUPD in 1994. 

"I literally have grown up on this campus," said Spears-McNatt. "My 20's, 30's, 40's, now 50's, it's bittersweet, a lot of memories. I'm a Buckeye, I'll be a Buckeye for life, but it's just a lot of great memories." 

Five nights a week at 7 p.m., The Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) Officer Thomas Schneider and Columbus Division of Police (CPD) Officer Shawn Dye hop into a new cruiser and head toward High Street to begin their shift. The duo is part of an expanding joint patrol program that now includes four officers from each division, doubling the size of the joint patrol program in the University District. Four new joint patrol cruisers were added to the fleet, helping them stand out from other patrol units. 

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. Classes are available on August 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. or August 28 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Spaces are limited. 

Learn about the training and register online.

NBC4 recently highlighted The Ohio State University Police Division's (OSUPD) preparations for the fall semester. 

"Our students are our bread and butter," said Lt. Joanna Shaul. "We're excited to have them back, the place is not the same without them, so we are constantly focused on being prepared for the students, having the best experience for the students, giving them the most safe environment we possibly can."

The Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) welcomed five new officers, James Bass, Calvin Cabarrus, Amanda Crowe, Megan Hale and Katie Demi, to the division with a pinning ceremony on July 26, 2024.

“We’re excited to welcome these five exceptional officers to the division just in time to also welcome students back to campus for fall semester,” said Deputy Chief Eric Whiteside. 

The Chronicle of Higher Education recently featured The Ohio State University’s public safety director Monica Moll in an article that delves into challenges faced by college police forces, and their unique responses. Moll’s decades of experience provide stability while still encouraging innovation amidst the evolving landscape of campus safety. 

The Ohio State University Police Division recognized several officers and a member of the community with its 2023 Annual Award Ceremony on May 5, 2024. 

“We are honored to work at The Ohio State University,” said OSUPD Deputy Chief Eric Whiteside. “But I also believe this institution is lucky to have a group of well-trained officers who are truly committed to community policing.”

The Officer of the Year Award was given to Adrienne Ward, after having two nomination letters sent in for her.