Gene Burton is no longer the acting director of public safety. Instead, the 22-year veteran of the University Police Department has been named the permanent director of public safety.
The announcement came about two weeks after the three finalists for the position held public forums on campus. Dean of Students Randy Hyman said he selected Burton because of a number of reasons.
"Gene Burton is one of the most honest, direct people I've ever met," Hyman said.
Hyman, who supervises the Department of Public Safety, held sole responsibility for choosing the permanent director of the department. A search committee made recommendations to Hyman after the forums and interviewing each of the finalists.
"I spent a lot of time checking references very carefully and it became clear to me that Gene Burton is right for this job right now," Hyman said.
While Hyman would not give a specific reason why Burton was selected over the other two candidates, he did say Burton's experience in the department and relationship with its staff played factors in his selection.
"The staff has really rallied behind him," Hyman said.
Burton said he felt "gratified, relieved and flattered" by the announcement. As director, his duties include leading the UPD and working closely with Hyman.
Now that he holds the permanent position, Burton said he is ready to focus on goals he has for the department. One priority, he said, is to update policies and procedures within the department, including officer regulations.
During his forum in October, Burton said he would like to add more structure and guidance to the department of 32 officers. He said 32 officers was an appropriate number to have on a campus the size of Ball State's "when managed correctly."
Burton said he would also continue following a 47-page comprehensive review of the department that listed 108 recommendations, some of which Burton has already executed.
"The comprehensive review has made my job easier," Burton said. "It's like a blueprint to help guide the department."
One of the recommendations in the review suggested UPD establish a community policing approach. Community policing would increase interaction between officers and community members.
"A community policing policy makes sense at Ball State," Hyman said. "One way that happens is to be out of the cars and interacting with the public."
A bike patrol, which began earlier this year, is one step toward establishing community policing policies, Hyman said. In addition, Hyman said a foot patrol may also be instituted to get officers to interact with the university community more.
Hyman and Burton also said they would like UPD to become one of the top university police forces in the nation.
"It's going to be a long road and it's going to take a lot of work," Burton said.
One way to become a top university police force, Burton said, is to get the department accredited. Accreditation would require the department to adhere to certain guidelines and policies set by an accreditation agency.
"We need to ask ourselves if (accreditation) is important," Hyman said. "That may be a step we want to take."
Burton, who has spent his entire law enforcement career with UPD, holds a criminal justice degree from Ball State. In February, he was named acting director of the Department of Public Safety after former Director Joe Wehner was relieved from the position and reassigned to work in Facilities Planning and Management.
The search for a new public safety director began in June. About 60 candidates from around the country were narrowed down to three from Indiana, all with degrees from Ball State.
Hyman said the search committee did not intentionally choose the candidates because of their location or education.
The other finalists for the position were Purdue University Police Chief Linda Stump and T. Neil Moore, former chief of police for Fort Wayne.
With a permanent director now in place, Hyman said he is ready for the Department of Public Safety to continue positive changes.
"I believe the department is poised and ready to move forward," he said.
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