Get to know UD’s top cop

Patrick Ogden is the son of a police officer. Two of his five brothers made careers in law enforcement, too.

Was there ever any doubt that Ogden would spend his career in policing? No, not quite.

"I always knew that I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my dad and older brothers but I never dreamed that my career would have been so rewarding," Ogden said. "I've been blessed with amazing opportunities to serve in various operational and leadership roles over the past three-and-a-half decades. I am now able to use my experience and enthusiasm to prepare for succession within the department and to give back to our noble profession through association work."

Ogden is Chief of Police at the University of Delaware, a role he's held since 2009, and also serves as associate vice president at UD. Ogden oversees a nationally accredited police department with 54 officers among 92 total employees and approximately 50 part-time employees and another 50 volunteers who serve as emergency medical technicians. Staffed 24 hours daily, across 365 days annually, UD Police balances reactive response with proactive measures to address occurrences of crime, introduce new tools and foster a safer campus.

With Ogden as UDPD's chief, occurrences of Part I crimes - as defined by the National Incident-Based Reporting System - have decreased on UD's Newark campus by 56% since 2010 and by 9% from 2022 to 2023. (Part I crimes include theft, burglary, arson, aggravated assault and more.)

Ogden's leadership experience extends beyond UD Police. Widely regarded in Delaware and university policing communities, he is the current president of the Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police and a past president of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators. In addition, he is the incoming general chair for the university and college police section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the world's largest professional association for police leaders. Prior to joining the UD community, Ogden - a lifelong Delawarean - spent 22 years with the Delaware State Police.

UDaily recently spoke with Ogden about his 15 years (and counting) with UD Police and his continued efforts to keep the University a safe place at which to live, learn, work and visit.

What are UD Police's priorities?

Ogden: We live our mission, vision and core values on a daily basis. In essence, we collaborate with the goal of preventing crime, enhancing safety and building trust. In order to accomplish our mission, we deploy innovative crime reduction strategies and community policing initiatives focused on the welfare of the entire community. Our core values are PRIDE - Professionalism, Responsibility, Integrity, Dedication and Excellence.

What makes the University of Delaware's campus a special (and safe) place?

Ogden: For me, it's the people who make up the Blue Hen community and the University Police Department. I truly enjoy meeting with parents at New Student Orientation, football games and other events. I also cherish opportunities to talk with students during RSO (registered student organization) meetings and chance interactions while walking through campus. I am especially grateful for and proud of our amazing UDPD team, which includes police, dispatch and security. They are fully invested in creating and maintaining a safe environment as approachable ambassadors, who provide service with a smile.

What UD Police accomplishments and advancements give you the greatest sense of pride?

Ogden: It has to be our leadership development. When I arrived at UD, our police department wasn't the best at retaining our officers. I met with our officers individually to discuss my vision for the department and asked them about their career goals. I promised to invest in them professionally and provide them with better equipment, technology, policies and training to enhance their safety, wellbeing and job satisfaction. I explained that if they stayed with the department, worked hard and invested in our mission, we would build something special together in the years ahead. Several of those officers have been promoted over the years and are now members of my command staff and first-line supervisors. They fully embraced the challenge to transform the department into a dynamic leader in campus policing and they are now leading the charge.

When you're interacting with Blue Hens on campus, what's one thing they are often surprised to learn about you and UDPD?

Ogden: Although we are in the law enforcement profession, we envision policing in a much broader context than just enforcement. We embrace our role as guardians, role models and educators. We have a diverse workforce and many of our team members have connections to UD beyond the police department. There are currently 19 members of the department who attended UD and 15 members who are parents of UD students. There are also at least 89 former members of our Cadet program who are currently working as police officers or dispatcher's throughout the state of Delaware, surrounding states, and federal agencies.

What's next for you and the UD Police Department?

Ogden: We recently completed an on-site assessment review by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The feedback we received was very positive and we fully expect to be re-accredited in the fall; however, there is always room for improvement. We are currently revising a few strategic policies, leading a building access control project, and updating our succession plan. We are also putting the finishing touches on a new training room that will be used for daily squad briefings, our Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) course, our Critical Issues in Policing course (CRJU467) and our Police Advisory Committee meetings. In addition, we are partnered in the 30x30 Initiative to advance the representation and experience of women in policing. We are engaged with a campaign that ensures safe interactions between law enforcement and individuals with mental health conditions, and a trust-building campaign focused on critical areas like bias-free policing, use of force, victim service and more. I am incredibly proud of where our department has gone and where we are headed.