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NTSU / UNT Police Department History:
Courtesy of Tom Newell - Additional assistance
from Capt. Mike Amador
The University of North Texas Police Department was established
in 1970. The main responsibility of the department was the physical
security of the university campus. As the department evolved, the responsibilities
of the department changed dramatically. Today, the department is a full
service police operation with a continuing goal to provide high quality
customer service.
The Formative Years:
The UNT Police Department came from a Campus Security Force, also known
as the “Campus Patrol”, and became the NTSU (North Texas
State University) Police Department in December, 1970. This change,
part of a national trend on university campuses, was a result of Texas
State Legislature authorizing NTSU to commission the Campus Security
Officers as State Peace Officers. At that time, the City of Denton’s
City Council enacted an ordinance authorizing a joint-jurisdiction between
the City and NTSU Police to enforce traffic laws on the many city-controlled
streets that traversed through and around our campus. This was a first
of a kind ordinance in the State; it was a direct result of the unique
open makeup of the NTSU campus compared with traditional closed campuses
in which the university owned/controlled all the interior streets.
In September 1970 the department grew with the
addition of 6 new officers (from 14 to 20), and additional equipment
and resources for all those officers. Then Chief of Police Tom Martin
required all new officers to take at least one college course to get
a student’s perspective. Martin said “If we show students
a good police department then when they leave college they will know
what they should demand in their own community”. Incidentally,
James Cothran, father of Denton’s Shirley Cothran (1974 Miss Texas
and 1975 Miss America) was one of the first NTSU Police Officers. At the
time of this newly formed police department, student population at NTSU
was 16,501.
In 1976 the State provided grant funding via the
Regional Council of Governments (NCTCOG) to upgrade all law enforcement
radio equipment to new high band VHF multi-channel technology. Two statewide
frequencies were introduced (Intercity base and mobile) to allow coordination
between agencies. Now only one radio was required in each patrol vehicle
and almost every officer received a handheld radio. The car radios automatically
scanned the Denton PD channel….an advanced technology for the
time.
In April, 1978, the first black & white patrol
vehicles were introduced. The two new Dodge Monacos sported a new graphics
package, the NTSU logo with the word POLICE below, became the door decal.
The patrol fleet was still only four vehicles at this time, however,
shortly thereafter the two older patrol cars were repainted black &
white by two of the officers as an off-duty project. All of the equipment
installation & de-installation as well as graphics work was done
by patrol officers with the necessary talents.
Leaders over the years:
Over the last 30+ years, the department has been directed by several
different Police Chiefs.
- Bob Wallace (1969–1970),
director of the “Campus Patrol”, was essentially the first
“Chief” at the inception of the NTSU Police Department.
He moved on to become the Assistant Director of the Physical Plant.
- Tom Martin (1970–1972)
left to direct the Sam Houston State University Criminal Justice Program.
- Jack Q. Barton
(1972–1976) was the City of Denton Attorney before joining NTSU.
He served as Chief of Police and part-time University Attorney until
July 1976 when he was promoted to NTSU’s first full-time University
Attorney.
- Lawrence (Robby) Robinson
(1976–1983) was a former Sergeant and Administrative Assistant
to the Chief at NTSU. He had left earlier to be the Coordinator of
the NCTCOG (North Central Texas Council of Governments) Regional Police
Academy in Arlington, Texas; the academy used by NTSU-PD and most
municipal departments in the DFW metro area. A Denton native, he returned
to his alma mater and former department in 1976. He resigned in 1983
to become Chief of the Tyler Police Dept. He has since moved to McKinney,
TX where he served in several roles and is now the City Manager.
- Daniel Martin (1983–1986)
came from the Oklahoma State University Police Department where he
had held the rank of Captain. During his tenure he introduced the
Student Public Service Officer. He left in 1986 to work in real estate
development. He and his family still reside in Denton and are active
in the community.
- S. Eric Jackson
(1986–1999) came from the Denton PD and worked his way up through
the ranks from Patrol Officer ultimately to Chief. North Texas State
University became the University of North Texas in May 1988 during
his tenure. Formalizing policies & procedures and providing extensive
officer training to help minimize liability issues were his main goals.
He now runs his own consulting & training business and teaches
as an Adjunct Instructor for the Applied Economics Department in the
School of Community Service at UNT.
- Richard Deter
(1999–present) comes from the University of North Alabama, where
he was Chief of Police prior to coming to UNT. Since his arrival,
several important developments have come about. New transportation
systems, parking database system, K9 programs, and the new Sullivant
Public Safety Center are among them. Chief Deter is a major proponent
of continuing education, professional training, building partnerships
with campus departments and outside agencies, and fully supports all
of his staff in these endeavors.
Department Facilities
At the inception of the Police Deparmtment, the office
was first located in a room in Terrill Hall. It wasn't much longer until the
deparmtment was given it's own facility.
The department's first home of it's own were modest quarters
at 1601 W. Hickory next to the A-Frame fraternity house Tau Kappa Epsilon.
The buildings, an old house (used by CID and storage) and a cinderblock
structure at the rear, had previously been a nine-room dormitory and
boarding house.
In July of 1977 the department moved to the Sullivant Visitor’s
Center at 902 Eagle Drive (now the Murchison Annex). The building was
named for a prominent member of the NTSU Board of Regents, former Texas
Legislator and Cooke County Judge, Carroll Sullivant, who had been a
long-time supporter of the department. The vision of the building included
not only expanded modern space for the growing University Police Department,
but also a Visitor’s Center for campus guests that would be open
24/7/365.
In early 2001 the department moved to its current location
in the Sullivant Public Safety Center at 1700 Wilshire St., neighboring
Mozart Square. The building had previously been the MARC telemarketing
center, and when that operation shut down, the University purchased
the property and major renovations resulted in a modern and efficient
workspace for the still-growing department.
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