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Austin Peay State University reorganizes public safety, names Sammie Williams new police chief

Austin Peay State University - APSUClarksville, TN – Austin Peay State University Campus Police veteran Sammie Williams doesn’t like to be the center of attention. On a recent Friday morning, he stood uncomfortably inside the APSU Browning Building while a crowd of onlookers applauded.

Sammie Williams is sworn in as police chief by Austin Peay State University President Alisa White. (APSU)
Sammie Williams is sworn in as police chief by Austin Peay State University President Alisa White. (APSU)

“I’m very proud of you, and I’m very proud of our police officers on campus,” Alisa White, Austin Peay State University president, said.

That morning, friends and family cheered Williams, an 11-year veteran of the Austin Peay State University Campus Police, because he’d just been sworn in as the University’s new police chief.

His promotion was part of a recent consolidation of the University’s safety and security departments into a single unit, Public Safety. The new unit will oversee campus police, parking and transportation, emergency management, and environmental health and safety.

As part of the reorganization, Michael Kasitz, former APSU police chief, was named assistant vice president for Public Safety.

Sammie Williams and Michael Kasitz, assistant vice president for public safety. (APSU)
Sammie Williams and Michael Kasitz, assistant vice president for public safety. (APSU)

“Bringing all aspects of safety under one unit enhances efficiency and campus safety,” Kasitz said. “There is overlap between the responsibilities of environmental health & safety and emergency management and police. This model makes it easier to support and assist during an emergency. Regular planning between the chief and directors will enhance our response and recovery efforts.”

Under the reorganization, the University also is creating a parking and transportation auxiliary unit. Rasheda Smith, parking office supervisor, will serve as the director of that new unit. Carl Gerhold, assistant director of environment health and safety, was named director of that department.

The reorganization went into effect on Monday, July 1st.

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