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Olympic Gold Medalist Visits Campus

Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson was on hand for the Lady Zips game against Toledo on January 31st. Shawn answered questions at half time and signed autographs after the game for over an hour as fans lined the upper track area of the James A. Rhodes (JAR) arena waiting for their chance to meet this Olympic Champion. While games at the JAR are generally business as usual, celebrities get special treatment by UAPD. Pictured with Shawn are from left to right, Sgt. Bryan Taylor, Cpl. Robert Stachowiak and Officer Jim Gilbride. At least one of these officers was close at hand during Shawn's entire visit to assure that everything went as planned and that there were no surprises. You can tell by the smiles on the faces, all went well and as planned!

UAPD Upgrades Mobile Computers

Approximately five years ago the University of Akron police department was offered mobile data terminals or MDB's by the City of Akron Police Department (APD). APD was in the process of upgrading their computers and lent 10 of their older units to UAPD. The Units were slow but were still in working order and allowed UAPD to perform motor vehicle license and registation checks along with car to car communications with APD and the Summit County Sheriffs cruisers. By 2008 these units were obsolete with the software no longer being supported and parts no longer available. " As a commitment to the safety and security of our students, our administration provided funding for the upgrading of these devices" stated Chief Callahan. "Our new units will allow the officers to do everything the old ones did while giving us a platform to develop new and more complex technologies to assist the officers in the field" stated Cpl. Stachowiak, UAPDs technology officer. The units are toughened Motorola Laptops mounted in the cruisers and connect to the City of Akron through radio transmissions.

Sgt. Taylor Graduates from the FBI Academy

On December 12th, 2008, UAPD Sergeant Bryan Taylor graduated from the 235th session of the FBI National academy. The 235th session was comprised of men and women from all 50 states, all four branches of the U.S. Military and 26 foreign countries. FBI Director Robert Mueller was the principal speaker at the ceremony

The FBI National academy is known throughout the world for its academic excellence. Tthe National Academy program, held at the FBI Academy in Quantico Virginia, offers 11 weeks of advanced investigative, management and fitness training for selected officers having a proven record as professionals within their agencies.

Sergeant Taylor now joins 42,204 graduates that represent the FBI National Academy throughout the world since it began in 1935.

Sergeant Taylor said "It was a distinct honor to work with the best law enforcement officers from throughout the world, and a great opportunity to develop professional contacts and friends that will last a lifetime" .

Sgt. Taylor will put this training to good use as he resumes his duties in the UAPD detetective bureau.

UAPD Hires new officers

As the University of Akron grows, UAPD is growing. More buildings, parking spaces and dormitories all need to be watched over and UAPD is proud to be able to respond. All seven new officers have been hired and are undergoing an intensive acclimation period known as the Field Training Officer program (FTO). While all the officers hired have extensive law enforcement experience, there are many areas of law enforcement that are unique to campus law enforcement. In the FTO program, new officers are teamed up with another officer who shows them the ins and outs of the university and just how UAPD does what it does.

Johanna Adams	Ralph Mayes	James Gilbride	Todd Hough	Kerry Jackson	Kevin Kabellar	Alan Coleman

Johanna comes to the University of Akron police department from the Summit County Sheriff's Office. Johanna has 7 years of prior law enforcement experience.	Ralph comes to the University of Akron police department from the Summit County Sheriff's Office. Ralph has 11 years of prior law enforcement experience.	James comes to the University of Akron police department from the Akron Police Department. James has 8 years of prior law enforcement experience.	Todd comes to the University of Akron police department from the Akron Police Department. Todd has 6 years of prior law enforcement experience.	Kerry comes to the University of Akron police department from the Akron Police Department. Kerry has 13 years of prior law enforcement experience.	Kevin comes to the University of Akron police department from the Akron Police Department. Kevin has 13 years of prior law enforcement experience.	Alan comes to the University of Akron police department from the Glenwillow police department. Alan has 11 years of prior law enforcement experience.

UAPD trains in Diverse Cultures Communications

August 2008 saw officers from The University of Akron police department spending time in the class room for training from Gottfried Oosterwal, the Director of the Center for Intercultural Relations; Berrien Springs Michigan and a professor of multi-cultural education at Western Michigan University. Dr, Oosterwal spoke on the complexities of communicating with people of different cultural backgrounds. Officers learned that something as simple as maintaining eye contact, a key observation point for officers looking for someone trying to hide something, may be treated entirely differently in cultures where eye contact is only acceptable in certain relationships. "The University of Akron has students from 44 states and 79 countries, so we train our officers to try to be cognizant of and sensitive to the social norms of the people they are dealing with" stated Chief Callahan".

University Police have received training in the past from David Ayers, Director of UA's International Programs and this training built on that previous training.

Pictured from left to right, UAPD's Training Coordinator and Crime Prevention Specialist Chad Cunningham, Dr. Oosterwal and Chief Paul Callahan.

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