OSU Police Hire Assistant Chief, Announce Additional Department Changes

Monday, December 11, 2017

Joe Milek, a veteran of 25 years in law enforcement, has been named assistant police chief following a national search. 

Milek has a master’s in criminal justice and previously served as Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to that he was a member of the Cincinnati Police Department and is a veteran who served in the United States Air Force. Milek has strong family ties to Oklahoma, which aided in his decision to join the department. 

“I’m excited to be part of a team that is dedicated to making a difference on campus in terms of safety and security,” Milek said. 

Milek said his transition from Xavier University has been smooth, and he looks forward to helping students on campus during his time as assistant chief. 

OSU Chief of Police Leon Jones said the hiring of an assistant chief was essential to creating more efficiency and moving the department forward in terms of providing the best service to the OSU campus community.  

“His ideas and background match the vision I see for our police department,” Jones said. 

In addition to Milek’s hiring, Colt Chandler has been promoted from Lieutenant to Captain. Capt. Chandler has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology, is a graduate of the FBI Academy and has served OSUPD since 2007. 

Other changes in the department include moving the Emergency Operations Center under the supervision of OSU PD.  Lt. Dan Ray, who has been an officer with OSUPD on and off for more than 15 years, is now stationed in the EOC 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 Monday – Friday 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. 

Story by Shayla Terrel