University Park, IL–(ENEWSPF)– When Debra Boyd was named Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety of the Governors State University Police Department this year she realized she was making history.
Chief Boyd is the first woman to fill the post at GSU and was honored for “breaking the glass ceiling” at the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives recent annual meeting.
Boyd, of Park Forest, was pleased with the recognition in the category of police executives who excel in law enforcement. She began working for the GSU Department of Public Safety in 1979. She has served as a telecommunicator, patrol officer, investigator, juvenile officer, sergeant, lieutenant, and now Chief of Police.
“I work with a great department of dedicated professionals. The committed attention to service provided by the officers and staff of DPS, make this a campus that we are all proud to be a part of. We are continually meeting new challenges as the campus environment continues to evolve. We are proud of our success in providing a safe environment for the entire GSU community.”
Most recently Boyd met the challenge of effectively patrolling the extensive grounds of the university, while recognizing the need to conserve energy. In addition to instituting bicycle patrols in appropriate weather, Boyd with the support and approval of the administration, also added two T3 Motion Devices to the GSU fleet of patrol vehicles.
According to Boyd, the T3, a law enforcement “Robocop” of the Segway, is equipped with lights, sirens, able to reach speeds of 20 mph, and capable of traveling off road and in inclement weather. Governors State University is located on 760 acres of woods, prairie, and fields. It includes the campus buildings and the artwork of the Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park, which are located on 160 acres of the university.
“We are saving considerably in energy and maintenance costs as well as enabling officers to patrols areas on campus inaccessible to cars. In addition, the GSU community has been overwhelmingly responsive to the new patrol units. The officers are involved in community policing at its most personable levels”, said Boyd.
