Campus Departments

Sinclair Police through the years

The Sinclair Security Department was formed in 1972 when Sinclair moved from its modest quarters in the old YMCA building on Monument Avenue to the current campus. Personnel consisted of a Chief, four officers sworn in by the Dayton Police Department as Special Police Officers and student employees that served as dispatchers. In 1990, the department evolved from a security department into a fully functional police department. Today, the department consists of one Director of Public Safety, two captains, four lieutentants, 15 fulltime sworn officers, two part-time sworn officers, 70 part-time non-sworn officers, a 24-hour dispatch center, one office coordinator, one administrative assistant and one safety coordinator.

Department History 1972-2009

1975

Escort service was established.

1976

The department’s first brochure was published.

A 1977 Chevrolet Vega was purchased and served as the department’s first cruiser.

1977

L. J. Prugh, the department’s second security chief, died May 28 in the Beverly Hills Supper Club fire in Southgate, Kentucky.

1981

Officers began annual training in first-aid and CPR.

1982

The department replaceed its 1977 Chevrolet Vega cruiser with a 1983 Chevrolet S-10 pick-up truck.

1983

On January 9, officers discovered a water main break on Robert Drive that resulted in over eight million gallons of water flooding the Library and basement areas of Buildings 1-8. Water was estimated to be four to five feet in some places. The department’s cruiser was parked at the bottom of the receiving dock and destroyed in the flood. It was replaced in March with another S-10. On January 14, another water main broke on Robert Drive flooding the basements of Buildings 1-8 and the Library again. Classes resumed a week later.

With the opening of the first phase of the Lot A / Fifth Street parking garage, Campus Security entered the 21^st century with the addition of CCTV capabilities in the parking garage.

In October, Sgt. John Hawkins established the department’s first crime prevention unit.

In November, Crime Line debuted in the Clarion as a regular feature highlighting crime prevention tips and department news.

1984

On October 29, Wright State Security Director Carl Sims was named Sinclair’s 4^th security chief to replace retiring Chief Forrest Mathes.

1985

Lost & Found was transferred from the Counseling & Student Development Office to Campus Security.

The campus’ first disaster plan was designed by Chief Sims, Director of Physical Plant Ron Smith, and Dan Porter and Frank Clay of the Fire Science Department.

The name of the department was officially changed to Campus Police.

Sgt. Hawkins implemented an Operation I.D. program to mark college-owned equipment.

Crime Line is cancelled by the Clarion but was picked up by the staff newsletter, The Staff Communicator.

1986

A campus-wide emergency evacuation system was installed.

Four EVAC chairs were purchased by the Student Government Association to aid handicapped students in evacuating a building in an emergency.

The main phone number for the department was changed to 226-2700.

Emergency phone stickers were installed on all campus phones.

Crime Prevention Officer Jim Guerra began the Sinclair Security Alert (later called Campus Police Line) column in the Clarion.

1987

Sgt. Thelma Parks became the department’s third crime prevention officer and took over writing the Campus Crime Line in the Clarion. In May, she became the first officer to conduct orientations in the newly expanded Building 9 Daycare Centers.

In fall, the Employee Information Card program was established to enable staff, faculty and students to provide the department with crucial information in case of an emergency.

Sgt. Parks initiated a plan to change the patrol pattern of the officers that had been in place since the late 1970’s. The plan divides the campus into five “beats” and assigns an officer to a beat on a regular basis.

In October, Sgt. Parks coordinated a “Crime Prevention Day” to celebrate Crime Prevention Month. McGruff made an appearance to help celebrate the day. The event began a tradition that is now known as the Safety Awareness Expo, held annually in September.

“Rip Off” cards were introduced.

The department developed its second brochure.

1988

The second annual Crime Prevention Day featured Robotron and a Montgomery County Sheriff Deputy, Riverside PD and Clayton PD, in addition to McGruff.

The department developed its third brochure.

1989

The department helds its first Lost & Found Surplus Sale in May.

The department developed its fourth brochure.

Sgt. Thelma Parks and Sgt. Steve Faulkner represented the department for the first time at the annual Ohio Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony in London, Ohio.

In the fall, the first Emergency Procedures booklet for faculty and staff was distributed

1990

The department completed its transition from a security department to a police department after the full-time officers obtained additional training.

1995

In January, the Board of Trustees approved $606,000 to replace the department’s aging automated computer system and expand the physical layout of the offices. The relocation was completed in fall 1995. Matrix Systems of Dayton is hired to install and maintain the new system.

1996

In February, the Community Based Policing concept was established allowing officers to have permanent beats and encouraged to take “ownership” of their assigned areas.

SGA awarded the department with a Student Advocacy Award.

The department sponsored a car in the annual Soap Box Derby competition in Dayton. The car was painted to look similar to a Campus Police cruiser.

The Alumni Association donated two Cannondale police bicycles to the department.

The Safety Awareness Expo combined with the SGA’s Welcome Week activities.

1997

The department sponsored two drivers in the annual Soap Box Derby competition in Dayton.

1998

The department developed its fifth brochure.

Lt. John Hawkins and Sgt. Ron Adams participated in the annual Ohio Law Enforcement Games. This was the first time Sinclair had been represented at the games.

1999

The family of SCC student Joseph Earls donated a police bike to the department in honor of Joseph who died in a bicycle accident in 1995.

The Dayton Optimist Club donated $1,800 to purchase a McGruff, the crime fighting dog, suit.

2001

Officer Scott Fowler became the department’s first certified crime prevention specialist through the Ohio Crime Prevention Association.

The Sinclair Alumni Association purchased a police bicycle for the department.

2004

Officers began annual training in the use of AED’s.

A man accused of shooting a Trotwood police officer and a Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputy was shot by Dayton Police in the plaza next to Building 16 when the college was closed. This incident was the first shooting to occur on Sinclair property.

2005

In a vote of 11-3, Sinclair officers voted to unionize. The effort excluded the position of Sergeant and above and all part-time officers, including sworn officers.

2006

The department developed its sixth brochure.

The Chief’s position was incorporated into the new position of Director of Public Safety.

The part-time position of Safety Information Officer was established to provide security to Sinclair’s second campus, the Englewood Learning Center and later at the Huber Heights Learning Center.

In December, Chief Ron Labatzky retired and Charles Gift took over as Director of Public Safety.

2007

Sinclair officers voted to decertify the union.

Safety Information Officers were added to Sinclair’s fourth campus, the Courseview Campus Center in Mason.

Sinclair’s Courseview Campus Center received Mason’s Hard Target award for its pro-active safety and security efforts.

2008

The department became the first agency in Ohio to receive a MOTOMESH system in all of its cruisers. The system provides wireless broadband access to its CCTV system.

The name of the department was changed to Sinclair Police.

Sinclair Police Vehicles


Chevrolet Vega 1972-1982	Chevrolet S-10 1982-89

Chevrolet Celebrity 1989-94	Buick Regal 1995-2000

Chevrolet Caprice 1995-2000	Chevrolet Lumina 1999-date

Chevrolet Impala 2000-2005	Chevrolet Impala 2005-date

Chevrolet Impala 2006-date	Chevrolet Impala 2006-date

Campus Police Chiefs (1972-2006)

Director of Public Safety (2006-date)

Lyle Grossnickle 1972-1973	(photo not available)
L.J. (Wick) Prugh 1973-1977	(photo not available)
Forrest Mathes 1977-1984
Carl Sims, Jr. 1984-1994
Ronald Labatzky 1994-2007
Charles Gift 2007-date	(photo not available)