4 NEW SERGEANTS,
4 NEW OFFICERS

Speaking about the UC Davis Police Department’s new sergeants, Chief Carmichael said: “I’ve had the opportunity to work with these four men for a considerable amount of time and it has truly been what I consider an honor and a blessing, and this is the future of (the) UC Davis Police Department without a doubt, an amazing group, an amazing promotion.”

The new sergeants, with a collective total of 35 years in the UC Davis Police Department:

• Paul Duffy, became a sworn officer in 2005 after having worked as a UC Davis dispatcher for four years.
• Mike Green, joined the department in 2001; prior service in the Sacramento Police Department.
• Rick Mair, joined the department in 2011; prior service in the California Highway Patrol.
• Danny Sheffield, joined the UC Davis department in 2004. 

Carmichael pointed out “the wealth of experience” of the new sergeants as well as the new officers. Three of them are new to UC Davis, but not to law enforcement, and the fourth is returning to the campus Police Department.

They are:

• Louis Bautista, from the Rocklin Police Department and, before that, the California State University, Sacramento, Police Department.
• Denice Koen, from the Sacramento Police Department.
• John Rouleau, from the Dixon Police Department.
• Lisa Stambaugh, who put in 12 years as a UC Davis police officer and sergeant before leaving in 2007 for the Placer County district attorney’s office and, subsequently, the Nevada City Police Department. Now she is back as an officer.

Carmichael administered the oath of office to each group — the sergeants and the officers. Then they received their new badges, pinned on by family members.

The badge “symbolizes the beginning of an officer’s career as a protector of peace and of the people,” Carmichael said. “It also recognizes the role of an officer’s loved ones, as they will play a key role in their promotion as sergeant or their new life and role and career as a police officer.”

The chief also introduced two new employees:

• Rick Ehlert, protective service officer, UC Davis California National Primate Center, recent UC Davis graduate and former longtime Aggie Host security officer.
• Victoria Williams-Jones, dispatcher, from the San Francisco Police Department.

The UC Davis Police Department this week introduced four new officers and four new sergeants to the campus community, the result of an innovative selection process in which students and faculty played a bigger role than ever before.

Chief Matt Carmichael, who has led the department since Nov. 21, 2011, said he intentionally turned the hiring and promotion model upside down. “Normally, interview panels are 80 percent law enforcement and 20 percent community. We went the other way: 80 percent community and 20 percent law enforcement.”

The campus community representatives included faculty leadership, and undergraduate and graduate student leaders from the ASUCD, the Graduate Student Association and the Graduate Ally Coalition. They joined law enforcement representatives from inside and outside the Police Department in interviewing and then ranking the job and promotion candidates.

Carmichael, who said he accepted the rankings as presented, swore in the new officers and sergeants during an afternoon program Aug. 21 in the Tercero Service Center's main lounge, declaring afterward, “Judging by the people who made it through, the process works.”

More than 100 police officers and their families and members of the campus community attended the Pinning, Promotion and Welcome Ceremony, which included talks by two of the community members who participated in the hiring and promotion interviews.

Aggies for life

ASUCD President Rebecca Sterling proclaimed herself an “Aggie for life” and said to the new officers and sergeants: “I hope that each of you feels like you are entering into a community that will make you an Aggie for life as well.”

She said UC Davis police officers “are such a critical part of our community — they give a sense of security, they keep our student body safe and, most importantly, are able to protect every individual’s rights here on campus.”

“Even though we’re in especially difficult times right now, I hope you know that there is a deep and abiding respect for our police officers and their willingness to lay down their lives in order to protect our students and all of the civilians who reside here.”

She also addressed the “elephant in the room,” noting the “particularly difficult year for our community members and our police officers.”

'Look to the students to be your partners'

“But like any great challenge, that means we have great opportunity,” said Sterling, urging police to “please look to the students to be your partners in that. The student body really wants to be here to welcome you in and to do everything we can to better the community with your help.”

Professor Linda Bisson, chair of the Academic Senate, addressed the new sergeants first: “Job well done, the campus appreciates your service, and I’m pleased that I can participate in this acknowledgement of your talents and the work that you’ve put in and your dedication to this campus.

“It is strongly appreciated; you’re probably not thanked enough, so we thank you on behalf of the community for a job really well done.

To the new officers, she said: “We are so pleased you are joining the UC Davis family. … We thank you for agreeing to become a part of this community and to keep us all safe.”

Provost expresses gratitude

Ralph J. Hexter, provost and executive vice chancellor who now oversees the Police Department, said to all the police personnel in the room: “UC Davis could not function — that is to say, it could not exist as a space that fosters excellence in teaching, research and public services — without your contributions.

The challenges and risks of police work are demanding enough, he said, “but we also ask you to face such situations while serving our community with respect and courtesy — indeed, as members of our community. It may not be far off to say that we ask you to face dangers, complications and uncertainty without letting on that this is what you are in fact doing.

“Obviously, this is not an easy task. It requires grace, tact and incredible intelligence. But in performing it day in and out you demonstrate an aspect of police work that might best be described as an art — and a generous and human one at that. You also perform a noble service to our university and for all that UC Davis and I personally am grateful.”

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