UPDATE (Jan. 12 at 10 p.m.): Greene addressed the SDSU Students’ Association at their regular meeting Monday night, notifying the senate of the change and announcing some changes to the structure surrounding safety and security.
The University Police Department (UPD) and the department of environmental health and safety will now fall under Greene’s oversight, along with the offices of risk management and emergency management. Previously, UPD was overseen by SDSU’s Vice President for Technology and Security, David Overby.
“With that vacancy there, we’re gonna look and make sure that we’re getting the highest efficiency, highest impact, best processes, best kind of structure to meet the safety and security needs for the university campus,” Greene said during the meeting.
Greene also confirmed with Collegian Media that Kilber is still employed by the university.
ORIGINAL STORY (Jan. 12 at 12:19 p.m.): The Brookings Police Department has agreed to help the South Dakota State University Police Department with some of its duties, the city announced Monday.
The new agreement began Friday and is expected to continue until SDSU hires a new police chief, according to a city news release issued Monday morning. The release also stated that Brookings Police Chief Michael Drake will “provide leadership for the University Police Department.”
The move is at the request of SDSU and follows the Nov. 23 arrest of former SDSU Police Chief Tim Heaton after five German shepherds were found in a house he owns at 1008 Third St. in Brookings. Heaton pleaded not guilty last Monday to five counts of felony cruelty to animals.
Heaton also requested and was granted a preliminary hearing, which is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Feb. 9.
The university named Michael Kilber as the interim chief of University Police on Dec. 5. Heaton officially resigned from SDSU effective Jan. 1.
Tracy Greene, vice president and general counsel of SDSU, said the safety of the university and its people are a “top priority” in an SDSU campus communication sent to all staff and students Monday afternoon.
“During this time, we will continue to evaluate our procedures and processes to ensure the highest level of safety and security remains in place,” Greene said.
This is a developing story; check with Collegian Media for updates as they become available.
