Delaware State quietly hires familiar face as new police chief following campus unrest
Delaware State University hired a new police chief this summer, with a familiar face.
James Overton, who held the top spot in the university force nearly 20 years ago, returned to the Dover institution in July. He fills the shoes of former Chief Bobby Cummings, who stepped down earlier this year amid a tumultuous spring semester on campus — with students protesting campus safety and the handling of sexual assault cases.
Cummings retired in May after roughly two years leading the Delaware State University Police Department. Now, Overton has taken back the reins he held for six years.
Delaware State spokespeople confirmed the appointment with Delaware Online/The News Journal on Tuesday morning, though no university announcement marked the hire in late July. A formal announcement then came by 3 p.m.
"As an alum and former chief, I feel like I’m returning home, and it just feels right," Overton said in the release. "The university and the world have changed during my 12 years away, but my experiences during that time have prepared me for this."
The Delaware State alumnus said he plans to see the department collaborate more with the student body, build stronger relationships with state law enforcement partners and upgrade its technology. And, he's “excited and humbled” by that opportunity and challenge ahead.
Overton was one of the first sworn officers at Delaware State in 2000. Five years later, he became chief.
Under his watch, the campus saw camera upgrades, new technology, additional police vehicles and more. Amid growing calls, a shooting on campus and more, Overton saw the department grow from three officers to 14. In 2008, he'd be recognized in administrative excellence by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.
Overton served as chief of police at University of Massachusetts Boston after leaving his spot at Delaware's HBCU. The chief followed that appointment with work in student affairs at the New England school for roughly five years. Later, Overton worked in business development and as a senior accounting manager for a company specializing in security solutions.
Overton amassed more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, according to Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions, alongside a retirement from the Delaware Air National Guard after over 20 years of military service. Overton has an associate's degree in police science, studied sociology at Delaware State as his bachelor's degree, then earned a master's degree in human resources from Wilmington University and another from Delaware State in business administration.
Today, he's starting a fall semester in the First State.
Overton steps into an ongoing university response to student safety concerns, as a Safe Space Coalition formed under President Tony Allen, and funding was secured for a Safe Space Project to be housed at DSU Downtown to assist in sexual assault response and prevention programs.
Gwen Scott-Jones, dean of the University Wesley College of Health and Behavioral Sciences, said Overton has "a proven history of transforming public safety here at DSU."
“Chief Overton has started collaborating with me in my role as the Chair of the Safe Space Coalition and other campus leaders to assess safety concerns across campuses," she continued in the release. "His campus safety experience, transparency, compassion and authenticity will serve us well here at DSU and we are looking forward to working with him and the public safety team."
How are these efforts going? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for Delaware Online and USA TODAY Network Northeast, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on Twitter @kpowers01.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware State quietly hires new police chief following campus unrest
