11/4/97
ATHENS, Ohio -- The Ohio University Police Department recently added three police officers and a communications officer to its force.
The three police officers are:
* Jamie Spergin, 21, who earned an associate's degree in police science from Hocking College in 1996 and worked for the Corning Police Department for two years before joining OUPD.
* John Stabler, 28, who graduated in 1992 from Capital University with a bachelor's degree in political science and economics. He served four years in the U.S. Army and in September received an associate's degree in police science from Hocking College.
* Michael Swearingen, 25, received an associate's degree in police science from Hocking College in 1993 and worked as a corrections officer for the Warren County Sheriff's Department for three years before joining OUPD. He graduated from Alexander High School in 1990.
All new OUPD officers must pass the department's Field Officer Training Program, an orientation course that introduces them to OUPD's specialized campus law enforcement procedures, techniques and philosophies.
The new officers, who were hired in August, replace officers who accepted positions at other law enforcement agencies. OUPD has 27 police officers.
Janet Parks, 43, is one of four OUPD communications officers. She works the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift, maintaining communication dispatches to officers, answering emergency calls, relaying 911 calls and monitoring campus alarm systems. Parks earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Ohio University in 1996 and now is a part-time graduate student at the university. She worked for the university's Custodial Services before being hired by OUPD earlier this year.