About Us - Department of Public Safety & University Police

Department of Public Safety

The Department of Public Safety is committed to protecting the campus community through comprehensive safety services on both the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses. With a focus on campus policing, emergency management, and support services for crime victims, the department fosters a safe, supportive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Through community-centered initiatives and dedicated leadership, our department prioritizes the well-being of everyone at KSU.

police officer shoulder showing badge and patch

Kennesaw Campus

351 Paulding Avenue
Kennesaw, GA 30144
Building #351

Marietta Campus

1100 South Marietta Parkway
Marietta, GA 30060
Norton Residence Hall Ground Floor (Building R2)

Campus Maps

Office of the Chief

The Assistant Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police is the senior administrator over all of Police and Public Safety. The Office of the Chief Section staff includes Police Operations, Office of Emergency Management, Administrative Services, Office of Public Safety Systems (Police and Security Technical Systems and Communication Center).

Office of Deputy Chief

The Deputy Chief of Police/Director of Police Operations assists the Chief of Police in the leadership and management of the staff of the Department of Public Safety, budget issues, and holds primary responsibility over Police Operation functions assigned to Uniform Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Administrative Operations (Training, Internal Affairs, Recruitment, Community Outreach, Clery Compliance/Records, Fleet, Equipment), and Special Operations (K9, Honor Guard, Special Events). This position also has oversight of the Office of Victim Services. This position is responsible for administrative and supervisory duties involving state and federal regulations and institutional rules and policies in order to provide for the protection, safety, and welfare of students, employees, and property within the areas under the control and authorized jurisdiction of the agency.

Office of Public Safety Systems

The Office of Public Safety Systems includes Technical Services and the Communications Center.

Technical Services supports the departmental use of designated systems through researching, recommending, coordinating, implementing and/or managing systems and software as a service that are utilized by the Department of Public Safety. Technical Services also manages and supports the University's IP-based camera system, call boxes on the Marietta campus, as well as the review and approval process associated with the installation of panic/duress alarm components.

The Communications Center serves as the University's public safety answering point to process calls for service and provide dispatch service for the Department of Public Safety.

SAFE Center

The Kennesaw State University SAFE (Safety. Advocacy. Forensics. Empowerment.) Center, formerly the KSU Office of Victim Services, seeks to ensure that the victims of crime at Kennesaw State University become an integral part of the criminal justice system. Through a centralized interdisciplinary approach and collaboration across the campus and the community, the KSU SAFE Center believes that the voices of KSU crime victims will become a necessary component of the justice system.

The mission of the SAFE Center is to provide elevated and comprehensive student-centered, trauma-informed services to KSU students and employees who were victims of crime. The goal of the SAFE Center team is to reduce the level of trauma and secondary injury to the crime victim and restore the victim’s wellbeing by using a holistic team continuum of care approach to each case. The purpose of this approach is to centralize crime victim resources to avoid victims presenting to multiple locations while enduring trauma. We believe a holistic approach will help students cope with the negative effects of victimization such as PTSD, poor academic performance, depression, anxiety, and substance use.

Office of Emergency Management

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM), a division of the Department of Public Safety, has the primary responsibility of the emergency management function at Kennesaw State. Emergency management is broken up into four core functions or phases: Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. OEM has offices at the Kennesaw and Marietta campuses. The emergency operations plan, emergency alert systems, crisis coordinator program, disaster exercises, AEDs and continuity operations planning are just a few important responsibilities within OEM. The Public Safety Communication Center is also an integral part of OEM. OEM offers over 15 short and free emergency preparedness classes to faculty, staff and students, and can be tailored for departmental needs.