Heads up, students, there’s a new chief in town.
Mississippi University for Women has hired a new police chief, six months after the departure of former chief Kennedy Meaders in March.
Danny Patton, the current police chief at Bevill State Community College in Jasper, Ala., will take the helm Oct. 1. He will replace Capt. Mary Slater, who has served as acting chief since March 21.
Patton is a 28-year veteran of the Jasper Police Department, where he worked his way through the ranks, from supervisor of community policing and computer crimes to commander of the multi-jurisdictional drug task force, assistant chief and, finally, chief. He abruptly resigned as Jasper’s chief in July 2011, one year after accepting the position.
He has presided over five Bevill campuses — in Jasper, Fayette, Hamilton, Carrolton and Sumiton — since 2008.
His professional affiliations include the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He holds certifications and training in diverse areas including student safety and security, threat preparedness and cultural sensitivity.
His broad experience and understanding of the higher education environment made him a standout candidate, MUW University Counsel and Assistant to the President Perry Sansing stated Friday in a press release.
“We’re confident that he brings a high level of professionalism and knowledge to this role,” Sansing said.
MUW has declined to say whether Patton’s predecessor, Meaders, resigned or was fired, citing the issue as a personnel matter. Meaders, an Amory native, served as MUW’s police chief from July 2009 to March 2012. Before that, Meaders was head of security for the Columbus Municipal School District.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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