University of Rhode Island Police Major Michael Jagoda announced the promotion of Lieutenant Michael Chalec to Administrative University Police Captain, a position that has been open since the previous captain retired.
Lieutenant Michael Chalek of the university police was promoted to the position of administrative university police captain, on Monday, Jan. 23.
“Captain Chalek has shown his dedication making the University of Rhode Island a safer community,” said Police Major Michael Jagoda in an email issued to all police personnel on the 23rd. “Now he will continue to perform these duties in a leadership role.”
Chalek will now oversee the lesser ranking Public Safety Personnel and University Police Lieutenants for the Administrative and Finance Division of the Department of Public Safety. While there were many applicants seeking to fill this vacancy, Chalek stood out the most with his nearly 40 years of experience in policing, according to Jagoda. In Jagoda’s email, he listed Chalek’s involvement with the URIPD, including serving as a Lieutenant for 11 years, two of which he also served as acting Police Major.
“While at the University he has served on the SART Team, Title IX Task Force and the supervisor in charge of the four satellite campuses,” Jagoda stated.
A POST Certified ethics instructor at the Municipal Police Training Academy for six years, Chalek is also heavily involved with the department’s Community Policing initiatives. He works closely with partners within the university, such as the Dean of Students’ Office, and the Office of Housing and Residential Life.
The URIPD, in conjunction with the Department of Public Safety, has also recently posted a job listing for a Coordinator of Public Safety Administration. This position will be responsible for managing the daily functions of the department’s Administration Division and is overseen by the Director of Public Safety, Stephen Baker.
In addition, the basic role of this position is to minimize demands on the Director by taking responsibility for correspondence, phone calls, planning and organizing meetings and events that serve to enhance the department, assist department leadership in developing programs, and providing positive on-campus experiences for students, faculty, and staff.
In addition to Chalek’s new position, the URIPD also seeks to hire two new Sergeants in an effort to increase first line supervision. “Putting supervisors out in the field with other patrol officers allows for more accountability, insurance that officers are not abusing their powers, commitment to our community policing standards, and protection of the agency from liabilities,” said Jagoda.
Chalek will be aiding in the search for the new sergeants as one of his many new responsibilities. “All hired personnel will receive formal training in first line supervision, crime scene management, community policing, performance evaluation writing, and ethical dilemmas, in addition to their course academy training,” said Jagoda.
While the job posting for the two new Sergeants has already closed and the process of examining qualifications, required and preferred, has started the application for Coordinator of Public Safety Administration is open until Friday, Feb 3.