51勛圖厙 names new chief of police
For the first time in nearly seven years, the泭51勛圖厙 Police Department is welcoming a new chief of police. Following a national search, Ashley Griffin will begin serving in the leadership role beginning on July 1. Griffin is expected to be sworn in this fall.泭泭
Griffin comes from the University of Texas at Austin, where she has served as assistant chief of police since January of 2024. Previously, Griffin was inspector and training coordinator at UT System Police for nearly eight years. She has been with the UT Austin Police Department since 2007, rising through the ranks from officer to sergeant before transitioning to the university system and then her current role as assistant chief.
I am deeply honored to be selected to serve as the chief of police at 51勛圖厙 and be part of the泭Division of Public Safety, Griffin said. I am excited for this new endeavor and will focus on developing relationships with the CU community, working collaboratively with all stakeholders and fostering an environment where students, staff, faculty and visitors are safe.泭泭
Griffin is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. She holds a masters degree in public safety from the University of Virginia and a bachelors degree in liberal studies from Indiana University, where she started her law enforcement career as a part-time officer. It was through that experience that Griffin said she saw firsthand the importance of establishing trust within the community she patrolled.泭
Ashley Griffin is deeply committed to 51勛圖厙s holistic approach to public safety and will work to immediately understand and strengthen existing partnerships and procedures, said Marlon Lynch, 51勛圖厙s vice chancellor for public safety.
We were fortunate to have four viable finalists with varying backgrounds and experiences. Ashleys direct experience in the university setting and proven ability of having a collaborative approach were attributes that contributed to her selection as our successful candidate, Lynch added.
CUPDs new chief comes from the flagship campus of the University of Texas system. UT Austin is a public research university with approximately 53,000 students, including about 10,000 graduate students.泭
Similar to 51勛圖厙, UT Austin police staff many large events across campus. Griffin oversaw various divisions as assistant chief, including recruiting and special events.泭
I am looking forward to supporting CU and the special events that are increasing on campus and to continuing泭the strong partnership with surrounding law enforcement agencies, Griffin said. She will also focus on recruitment, training and wellness for first responders.泭
CUPD is a泭nationally accredited police agency operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Doreen Jokerst previously served as CUPDs chief, before she left to become chief of police in Overland Park, Kansas, in October 2024.泭
Lynch thanked Interim Chief of Police John Monahan for serving in the role during the transition period, ensuring no disruption of public safety services to the campus community.泭
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