OSU police chief leaving to take position at Illinois

Ohio State University’s police chief is leaving for a job at the University of Illinois.

Craig Stone has been hired as the executive director of public safety and chief of police, said Patrick Wade, spokesman for the University of Illinois Police Department. The new position will be effective June 18, Wade said, pending approval by the university’s board of trustees.

Stone was officially named chief of Ohio State’s police division in May 2016. He had served as acting chief before that, after the retirement of Paul Denton in June 2015.

Before Stone joined Ohio State, he served in the Columbus Division of Police for 29 years.

Ohio State, in a statement Wednesday, praised Stone’s leadership and focus on proactive policing and community engagement. Stone’s last day at Ohio State will be June 12, according to the university.

Deputy Chief Kimberly Stone Monica Moll, Ohio State’s director of public safety

Spears-McNatt has been named Ohio State’s interim chief upon Stone’s departure. She has been with OSU’s police department since 1994 and has received several honors, including a Commendation Award and a Medal of Valor.

At the University of Illinois, Stone will replace Jeff Christensen, who retired as police chief in December.

The dual position of police chief and executive director of public safety appealed to Stone, he said Wednesday during a conference call with reporters.

“It allows me to spread my vision and my philosophy of policing across all areas and not just the police department,” he said.

Stone’s experience building community-centered safety initiatives, plus his extensive career in law enforcement, impressed University of Illinois leaders, Wade said.

Stone oversaw Ohio State police as the

school began requiring sophomores to live on campus, giving campus police the largest university population to protect in years.

He also was at the helm of the division during at least two major police incidents on campus. In November 2015, a former security officer took a hostage at the Wexner Center for the Arts, threatened others with his gun, fired shots and damaged artwork before fatally shooting himself. On Nov. 28, 2016, a firstyear student drove into a crowd on campus and attacked people with a knife, injuring 13, before he was shot and killed by a university police officer.

“Craig brought outstanding leadership, particularly during high-profile incidents, as well as a passion for interacting with all facets of our campus community,” Monica Moll, Ohio State’s director of public safety, said in a statement.

“Craig brought outstanding leadership, particularly during high-profile incidents, as well as a passion for interacting with all facets of our campus community.”