Lang
2/20/20
The director of the University of Iowa Department of Public Safety has announced his retirement.
Scott Beckner will retire in June after a nearly 34-year career in law enforcement, including nearly four years at the UI and almost 30 in higher education. He says he will continue to fulfill his duties and assist in a successful transition until an official retirement date has been determined. According to a UI news release, more details will be released later in the spring semester.
Beckner, who assumed the role at the UI in July 2016, re-vamped the university’s late night safe ride service, (NITE RIDE), soon after taking on the role. He partnered with UI ITS to create a user-friendly ride request app, added additional vehicles to the fleet, and offered an express ride option.
Beckner also created the university’s first formal student security officer program — which at full staffing now employs approximately 100 students — as a way to break down the barriers between students and police, and improve customer service when it comes to safety across campus.
Prior to his arrival in Iowa City, Beckner served as the director of public safety and chief of police at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia. He also served as chief of police at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia and spent 18 years at Michigan State University Police Department in East Lansing.