Aaron Spears and Vincent Benincasa were sworn in as officers with the OSUPD. Pictured are (from left) Chief Public Safety Officer Michael Robinson, Benincasa, Spears, OSUPD Chief Leon Jones and Sr. Vice President for Administration and Finance Joe Weaver.

OSUPD swears in two new officers

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

The Oklahoma State University Police Department officially welcomed two new officers with a swearing-in ceremony Friday.
Aaron Spears and Vincent Benincasa joined the department last June and graduated from the police academy in the fall. Both have experience as public service officers — part-time student employees who provide safe walks, monitor buildings and grounds and respond to low-level calls such as assisting motorists. Since hired as officers, the pair have completed 640 hours with a field training officer.

Spears worked as a math teacher and wrestling coach at Pawnee Public Schools from August 2012 until May 2018. He earned a bachelor’s in secondary education from OSU in 2012 and was a public service officer with OSUPD from 2010 to 2012.

“I love to help people in any way I can,” Spears said, explaining why he wanted to be a police officer.

Benincasa served as a public service officer with the OSUPD from 2013-2017. He’s currently earning a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and sociology at OSU. He was also a student intern with the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Department in New Hampshire and the U.S. Marshals Service.

Benincasa remembers wanting to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps as a police officer since he was in kindergarten.
“When I went to school, I worked for OSUPD as a student employee,” he said. “They gave me my first shot and a real look within a police department. When it came time to choose who I wanted to work for, OSU was hiring and I couldn't think of a better place.”

OSUPD Chief Leon Jones said the two bring energy and dedication to the department.

“We are excited to welcome Officers Spears and Benincasa as fully sworn officers of the OSUPD,” Jones said. “They have a passion for the profession. I have no doubt they will be assets to the department and will work not only to serve and protect the community but to build relationships as well.”

The OSUPD has 31 sworn personnel serving the campus of more than 25,000 including students, faculty and staff. The department also patrols Lake Carl Blackwell. The OSUPD offers a full range of police resources including area patrols, criminal investigations, crime prevention, facilities security analysis, event planning and parking management. The OSU Police Department was the first agency in Oklahoma to achieve accreditation by the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police Accreditation Program and has maintained that accreditation since 1998.
CONTACT: Shannon Rigsby | Public Information Officer | 405-744-9081 | shannon.rigsby@okstate.edu