A 21-year veteran at Georgia Southern, Michael Russell was named Tuesday as director of Public Safety and chief of the Georgia Southern University Police. He replaces Ken Brown, who retired June 30 after 21 years as chief.
Russell, who has 28 years of law enforcement experience, was serving as assistant director of Public Safety at Georgia Southern and as a major for the university police.
Russell joined Georgia Southern in 1988 as captain of the Department of Criminal Investigations. He later moved into Police Services and was promoted to the rank of major and became the assistant director in 1999. As assistant director, Russell served as senior supervisor in Police Services and supported areas of Public Safety including environmental safety, fire safety, compliance and hazardous waste management.
Prior to joining Georgia Southern, Russell served as a parole officer with the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles. He began his career in law enforcement with the City of Statesboro Police Department where he rose to the rank of patrol lieutenant.
Russell earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Georgia Southern. He is a certified police and parole officer and general instructor with the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. He is also an instructor with the Georgia Crime Information Center.
Russell, who has 28 years of law enforcement experience, was serving as assistant director of Public Safety at Georgia Southern and as a major for the university police.
Russell joined Georgia Southern in 1988 as captain of the Department of Criminal Investigations. He later moved into Police Services and was promoted to the rank of major and became the assistant director in 1999. As assistant director, Russell served as senior supervisor in Police Services and supported areas of Public Safety including environmental safety, fire safety, compliance and hazardous waste management.
Prior to joining Georgia Southern, Russell served as a parole officer with the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles. He began his career in law enforcement with the City of Statesboro Police Department where he rose to the rank of patrol lieutenant.
Russell earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Georgia Southern. He is a certified police and parole officer and general instructor with the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. He is also an instructor with the Georgia Crime Information Center.