Ohio State University Police Division Welcomes Dennis Jeffrey as New Chief of Police
The Ohio State University Police Division (OSUPD) has named Dennis Jeffrey chief of police, effective Nov. 1.
“Dennis has three decades of law enforcement experience and has worked in support of Ohio State’s community for a majority of his career, both with OSUPD and in various roles while at Columbus Police,” said Monica Moll, associate vice president of Ohio State’s Department of Public Safety. “He is well positioned to lead OSUPD and continue the important partnerships we have with local, state and federal agencies that help keep our campus safe.”
Jeffrey becomes the agency’s 12th police chief, replacing Kimberly Spears-McNatt, who retired from the role in August 2024. Jeffrey joined OSUPD in 2022 as a deputy chief after serving 27 years with the Columbus Division of Police (CPD).
“My wife and I, and two of our children, have graduated from Ohio State,” Jeffrey said. “I see every Buckeye like I do my own family and understand how policing on a college campus is unique. It is my honor to serve this community, and we will continue to have a visible presence and focus on community engagement and educational outreach.”
As an OSUPD deputy chief, Jeffrey played a key role in establishing the division’s strategic plans and priorities governing training, accreditation, investigations, event management and homeland security. He also developed innovative services and collaborative programs, aligning with community agencies and partners to promote public order and safety for Ohio State’s community. Jeffrey was a lead for readiness planning for large-scale events, including athletics, concerts, community-wide gatherings and more.
During his tenure with CPD, Jeffrey served most recently as the commander of the major crimes bureau, made up of investigative units focusing on homicides, felony assaults, robberies, burglaries and cold cases. He previously served as a CPD sergeant for 11 years working in patrol, criminal investigations and training, and as a lieutenant for eight years, serving as the Franklin County Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) coordinator. In that role, he helped facilitate the creation of the mobile crisis response team, which partners a social worker and CIT officer to respond together to calls involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
Upon promotion to CPD commander, Jeffrey first served as the zone 4 patrol commander for two years, which includes the University District.
“I believe that I am uniquely positioned to lead our police agency, carry out our mission to the community, continue to build deep relationships and promote division-wide accountability,” Jeffrey said.
Jeffrey was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and is a veteran of the United States Army Reserve. He earned a BS in political science from Ohio State and an MBA from Franklin University. He is affiliated with the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators and the Crisis Intervention Team International. He earned his Police Executive Leadership College (PELC) degree in 2018 and became a Certified Law Enforcement Executive (CLEE) in 2017.