University Police Chief to Retire This Fall
News directors, editors: A photograph of Jones can be downloaded from www.ohiou.edu/news/pix/jones_ted.jpg
ATHENS, Ohio (June 9, 2000) -- The director of Ohio University's campus safety department will retire this fall, Vice President for Administration Gary North said today.
Theodore "Ted" S. Jones, who joined the university in February 1988, announced his retirement this week. He plans to retire September 1.
"My time with our department has been an exceptionally rewarding experience," Jones said. "I leave the university with a sense of personal satisfaction and enormous respect for my staff members whose many contributions have elevated our department to the professional image it currently enjoys."
Jones has been instrumental in creating a campus police program that has become a state and national model, said Ted Kohan, Associate Vice President for Administration. "Over the years, Ted has developed creative and progressive programs that have had a tremendous positive impact on our campus environment," Kohan said. "He was the steward of programs such as Catcab, bicycle patrols, and other community policing activities like Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, and Rape Aggression Defense training. He brought home state and federal funding for several programs to further alcohol education, prevention, and enforcement.
"Ted insisted on a well-trained and qualified professional staff and has been successful in bringing the expertise of the department of Campus Safety to the highest level. I personally thank him for his twelve-plus years of dedicated service to the University."
Jones, 60, is a native of West Virginia. He began his career with the Athens Police Department in March 1965 as a communication officer, became a patrolman in June of that year, and was promoted to sergeant in 1967. In 1972 he became captain and was named Athens City Chief of Police the following year.
Jones' experience, forged from some of the community's most tumultuous times, brought invaluable leadership to the university as it bridged generations, said President Robert Glidden.
"Ohio University is known nationally as one of the safest and most inviting campuses anywhere, " Glidden said. "We can thank Ted Jones for that."
North noted that Jones' high expectations for performance and service resulted in a 33-member campus police unit that is focused on education, crime prevention, sophisticated levels of investigation, physical excellence and community service. "Campus police have achieved both individual and group recognition through their dedication and hard work," North said. "I am proud to be associated with the organization and I want to thank Ted Jones for his service and wish him the very best in retirement. Ohio University is a better place for having had Ted Jones as a part of the staff."
University officials will initiate a national search for a campus safety director this summer, North said. "Ted has graciously agreed to remain in his position while a national search will be conducted to find a replacement. We expect the search will be concluded by early fall quarter. I am pleased that whoever is hired will find a department that has a fine reputation and provides excellent service to the University community."
Jones holds a bachelor's degree in organizational communication from Ohio University and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Police Science from Hocking College. He is a graduate of the Police Executive Leadership College, past chairman of the State Association of Chiefs of Police for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and a former faculty lecturer at Hocking College. He is presently chairman of the education committee for the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police.
