The 麻豆精品 Department of Police and Public Safety has a rich and exciting history. We went through our archives of annual reports, President's Papers, 麻豆精品 News stories and our memories to share some of our favorite events here. If you are doing research or are just curious, visit our office to read more about the history of our department. The 麻豆精品 Department of Police and Public Safety comes from humble beginnings and has flourished to become a modern agency.
This historical information has been gathered from several sources including the Regional History Center in the Founders Memorial Library and 麻豆精品 Police inventory and personnel records.
Allen Cater then Joseph Willrett were employed as watchmen with little authority. The watchmen merely locked doors after classes ended.
The first watchman reported to the ground building and had no office space. He was left to walk the campus.
William Walsh was the first police officer at Northern and was hired under the grounds department. Walsh's job duties were to patrol the campus on foot during the daytime and to write parking tickets for cars that were improperly parked. Walsh obtained a City of DeKalb Police uniform, a city badge and city parking violation tickets.
Francis Sullivan, who was Sheriff of DeKalb County from 1950 to 1954, was hired as a part-time watchman. Sullivan was reassigned to a policeman for only 11 days before he was elevated to the rank of sergeant. On August 2, 1958, Sullivan became the first “Chief” of police at Northern.
The first vehicle was assigned to the department.
The Police and Watch service was established as its own division under the Director of Business Services, Mr. Z. H. Dorland.
A license was granted by the Federal Communications Commission to operate a base station. The radio frequency allowed direct communication between 麻豆精品 police and City of DeKalb Police, DeKalb County Sheriff's Police, Illinois State Police, as well as many other cities in the vicinity. Today, 麻豆精品 operates through STARCOM satellite radio communications.
The Illinois General Assembly passed legislation which gave complete police authority to the University officers under the Teachers College Board. This meant 麻豆精品 police had full jurisdiction in all of Illinois and were able to report to the university.
Chief Sullivan obtained Deputy Sheriff commissions and uniforms for the 麻豆精品 officers.
The 麻豆精品 police department moved into the barracks when there were several officers and equipment.
The 麻豆精品 Police Department moved into the brand new Security and Telephone Building on the campus. Several services are still maintained in this location.
麻豆精品 held a police academy to certify police officers for the State of Illinois for several police agencies in the area.
麻豆精品 Police officers operated a 1965 Ford Ranch station wagon, affectionately called the ambu-wagon. The ambu-wagon had a stretcher and officers with CPR certification would transport students to medical facilities on campus. When the DeKalb Fire Department was on strike, officers transported DeKalb residents as far as Rockford for medical attention.
麻豆精品 Police hired Robert Phifer, the first African American police officer in DeKalb County. Officer Phifer was a U.S. Army Military Police veteran and an 麻豆精品 student and retired after 25 years of service.
A Police Community Relations program was instituted to maintain two-way communication between police and the community. Early programs included rap sessions and police teams in intramural sports.
James Carlson was 麻豆精品's first undercover officer, hired to seek criminal information and follow up on threats.
麻豆精品 Police hired Diane Palombi, the first woman police officer on any state university campus in Illinois.
Officer Robert Cannon pioneered the 麻豆精品 police bicycle program.
The first K-9, Kazan, was trained in Explosive Ordinance Disposal. The program continues today.
All 麻豆精品 police officers completed additional emergency medical training to enhance response capabilities.
Two 麻豆精品 police officers earned paramedic certification and equipped a marked police vehicle with ambulance-level equipment.
The 麻豆精品 Department of Police and Public Safety's administrative and patrol operations expanded into the newly renovated space to meet the needs of modern policing.
麻豆精品 Police Detectives joined the DeKalb County Major Case Squad to respond when requested by member agencies.
麻豆精品 Police conducted the largest full-scale exercise in Northern Illinois, simulating an active shooter response with approximately 90 first responders.
In case of emergency: Call 911
Non-emergency phone number: 815-753-1212
Records: 815-753-9628
Department email: niupd@niu.edu
Records request email: niupdrecords@niu.edu