Howard Payne University’s Board of Trustees recently approved the university’s decision to upgrade its security force to a Department of Public Safety. The DPS agency will include at least one commissioned police officer, and the current security personnel will undergo training to become public safety officers.

Paul Lilly, assistant professor of criminal justice at HPU and retired police chief with 20 years of service, will serve as head of the department.

“The goal of this transition is to provide better safety and security to the university’s buildings, streets and parking lots,” Lilly said. “As a DPS agency, we will be able to take a more proactive stance in regards to safety and crime prevention.”

According to Lilly, the university is working in conjunction with the Brownwood Police Department. As public safety officers, HPU’s force will share authority over all public streets that run adjacent to the university.

“The HPU officers will be able to make traffic stops and work accidents,” Lilly said. “Also, beginning June 1, they will undergo training including crime prevention, crime scene investigation, domestic violence, emergency and severe weather training and hazardous material training.”

Lilly said that students, faculty, staff and visitors to the university should begin to notice changes on campus.

“We plan for the officers to have a much greater presence,” he said. “There will be a noticeable increase in visibility. Their vehicles and uniforms will also change to reflect a more professional look accustomed to law enforcement officials.”

Lilly stressed that, for the time being, only one of HPU’s officers is a commissioned police officer.

“There is a difference between a public safety officer and a police officer,” he said. “But HPU’s public safety officers will be able to play a much more proactive, rather than reactive, role on campus.”

Lynn Humeniuk, associate professor of sociology and director of HPU’s criminal justice program, calls the transition a “shot in the arm” for the university.

“A DPS agency will provide a much more professional and safer environment on campus,” she said. “This is a huge asset to HPU.”