Kennesaw State named Edward Stephens as the university’s new assistant vice president for public safety and chief of police on June 5.
KSU Interim President Ken Harmon made the final decision and announcement on June 5, choosing Stephens as the new chief of police. Stephens has served as the acting police chief on campus since former Chief Roger Stearns resigned his position amidst an investigation into his leadership nearly a year ago.
A committee led by Chief Legal Affairs Officer Jeff Milsteen began the search for the new police chief last August, and it was narrowed down to Stephens and one other candidate in February earlier this year.
“Along with having two-and-a-half decades of law enforcement experience, Chief Stephens has a great rapport with KSU faculty, staff and students and has built strong partnerships on campus as well as with local police departments in Cobb County, Marietta and Kennesaw,” Harmon said in a statement. “His career reflects a deep commitment to proactive leadership and community-oriented policing.”
In this new role, Stephens will oversee day-to-day public safety operations and must enforce established safety and security policies and procedures, according to KSU news. He will be in charge of more than 100 employees within KSU’s police department including officers and those who serve in administrative roles.
Stephens said the largest issue the department will face moving forward is with the organization. There are 62 total campus patrol positions and 42 are currently filled. Stephens explained the importance of supporting patrol officers by calling them the “backbone of the department,” and, “the first people you see when you come on campus.”
Joining as an officer in 1992, Stephens has worked with KSU’s Department of Public Safety for 26 years. He has an extensive education, earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at KSU and graduated from the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College.
Stephens’ past leadership positions include serving as a principal criminal investigator in 2000 and the Professional Standards Division commander in 2011. An Army veteran, Stephen has also served in the Georgia Army National Guard.
